Roshan Goonatilake
Encyclopedia
Air Chief Marshal
Roshan Goonetilleke, RWP & BAR
, VSV
, USP
, ndc
, psc, SLAF was the Commander of the Air Force
and is the Chief of the Defence Staff
of Sri Lanka
. Air Chief Marshal Goonetilleke has served in the Sri Lankan Air Force for more than 33 years. He is the elder son of the 5th Commander of the Air Force Air Chief Marshal
Harry Goonatilake
and his younger brother Air Commodore
Shirantha Goonatilake
RWP, RSP
, SLAF was killed in combat in 1995.
He is the second CDS to hold concurrent command of a service and second person to hold the office following its reforms before the appointment of former Gen. Sarath Fonseka
.
Goonatilake followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet
in the General Duties Pilot Branch on January 13, 1978. On successful completion of flying training, he was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer
on August 24, 1979.
, SLAF Anuradapura
and SLAF China Bay, Director of Operations / Deputy Chief of Staff before being appointed as the Chief of Staff
of the Air Force.
Goonetilleke graduated from the Air Command and Staff College
, Air University, Alabama, United States
in 1994 and had also attended the National Defence College
in Pakistan in 2001.
Goonetilleke was appointed as the Commander of the Air Force
on 11 June 2006. After the conclusion of Eelam War IV and the demise of the LTTE, he was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal
along with other service chiefs by the President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse, in recognition of his services during the campaign. He was appointed to the office of Chief of Defence Staff
on 16 November 2009. Goonetilleke retired on the 28 February 2011, however is going to continue his duties as the Chief of Defence Staff.
.
in the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Roshan Goonetilleke, RWP & BAR
Rana Wickrama Padakkama
The Rana Wickrama Padakkama medal and bar are presented to Sri Lankan military officers and other ranks as a reward for individual or allied acts of heroism in facing the enemy and performed of their own accord.-How medal awarded:It is ordained that the decoration shall be granted to all ranks of...
, VSV
Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
The Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya medal and bar are presented to Sri Lankan senior military officers of three services, given that their loyal service is of not less than 25 years and possess a perfectly flawless record of moral and military conduct, will be appropriate for the award...
, USP
Uttama Seva Padakkama
The Uttama Seva Padakkama is presented to all ranks of the Regular Forces of the Sri Lankan military for valuable service and dedication to duty with the outstanding ability, merit and excellent conduct, given that they count not less than 15 years continuous and uninterrupted service and possess...
, ndc
NDC
NDC or ndc may refer to:*IATA code for Nanded Airport, India* ndc, "name daemon control program" in some Unix-based BIND name-server environments* N.D.C., a 2002 single by Australian band Jebediah* National Defence Commission of North Korea...
, psc, SLAF was the Commander of the Air Force
Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)
The Commander of the Air Force is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The current Commander of the Air Force is Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama since 2011...
and is the Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the highest ranking military officer in the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. The Chairman outranks all respective heads of each service branch but does not have operational command authority over them or their service branches, however overseas inter service corporations...
of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Air Chief Marshal Goonetilleke has served in the Sri Lankan Air Force for more than 33 years. He is the elder son of the 5th Commander of the Air Force Air Chief Marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Harry Goonatilake
Harry Goonatilake
Air Chief Marshal W.D. Harry Goonetileke USP, ndc, psc, SLAF was the fifth Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force from November 1, 1976 to April 30, 1981.-Early life:...
and his younger brother Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Shirantha Goonatilake
Shirantha Goonatilake
Air Commodore Shirantha Goonatilake RWP, RSP, SLAF was Sri Lankan aviator and most senior Air Force officer to be killed in action...
RWP, RSP
RSP
-Music:* RSP , a Japanese hip-hop and R&B group* Rubber Soul Project, a Serbian rock music band-Computers and technology:* Remote Serial Port, an extension to the Telnet protocol* Reality signal processor, a component of the Nintendo 64...
, SLAF was killed in combat in 1995.
He is the second CDS to hold concurrent command of a service and second person to hold the office following its reforms before the appointment of former Gen. Sarath Fonseka
Sarath Fonseka
Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka, known as Sarath Fonseka is a former commander and General of the Sri Lanka Army and a former candidate for President of Sri Lanka. As Commander of the Army, he played an instrumental role in ending the 26 year Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, defeating the...
.
Early life
After finishing his studies at St Peter's College, ColomboSt Peter's College, Colombo
St. Peter's College is a distinguished boys only primary to secondary school in the Bambalapitiya zone of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1922....
Goonatilake followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet
Officer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officers and merchant navy officers, respectively. The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries...
in the General Duties Pilot Branch on January 13, 1978. On successful completion of flying training, he was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
on August 24, 1979.
Military career
His early commands included Commanding Officer of No. 03 Maritime Squadron and the Commanding Officer of No. 04 Helicopter Wing. He was also the Zonal Commander Northern Zone and Zonal Commander Eastern Zone. His more senior commands included commander SLAF KatunayakeKatukurunda Airport
SLAF Katukurunda is a Sri Lanka Air Force base located near the town of Kalutara in Sri Lanka. Originally established as a Royal Naval Air Station HMS Ukussa it was reactivated in 1984 by the Sri Lanka Air Force...
, SLAF Anuradapura
Anuradhapura Airport
SLAF Anuradhapura is a Sri Lanka Air Force base located near the ancient city of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka....
and SLAF China Bay, Director of Operations / Deputy Chief of Staff before being appointed as the Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of the Air Force.
Goonetilleke graduated from the Air Command and Staff College
Air Command and Staff College
The Air Command and Staff College is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate professional military education school. It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U.S...
, Air University, Alabama, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1994 and had also attended the National Defence College
National Defence University, Islamabad
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the Ministry of Defence of Government of Pakistan, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy...
in Pakistan in 2001.
Goonetilleke was appointed as the Commander of the Air Force
Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)
The Commander of the Air Force is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The current Commander of the Air Force is Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama since 2011...
on 11 June 2006. After the conclusion of Eelam War IV and the demise of the LTTE, he was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
along with other service chiefs by the President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse, in recognition of his services during the campaign. He was appointed to the office of Chief of Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the highest ranking military officer in the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. The Chairman outranks all respective heads of each service branch but does not have operational command authority over them or their service branches, however overseas inter service corporations...
on 16 November 2009. Goonetilleke retired on the 28 February 2011, however is going to continue his duties as the Chief of Defence Staff.
Rugby
Roshan Goonatilake is the newly appointed President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football UnionSri Lanka Rugby Football Union
The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in Sri Lanka. It is one of the oldest governing bodies in the world, being founded as the Ceylon Rugby Football Union in 1908...
.
Family
Air Chief Marshal Goonetilleke, is married to Nelun. They are have a son Rehan and daughter Ronali, Rehan is a Pilot OfficerPilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
in the Sri Lanka Air Force.