The youngest Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force dies
The youngest Commander in the history of the Sri Lanka Air Force has died. Born in Hikkaduwa in 1933, his name is Air Chief Marshal Deshamanya Pathman Hariprasad Mendis. He was the fourth Commanding Officer of the Royal Ceylon Air Force from 1971 to 1976.
He was 38 years old when he became the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force. He was the first Commander of the Air Force to be appointed at such a young age. He was a pilot in the Royal Air Force’s 2nd Squadron Transport Squadron.
Educated at St. Thomas’ College, his father was Dr. Mendis. He joined the Royal Ceylon Air Force Fifth Squadron on August 8, 1951 and was sent to Britain for further training as a Cadet Officer. He was accompanied by Cadet Officer D. De. S. Mr. Seneviratne was also present. He graduated from the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, England on April 6, 1954. From there, CIA gained expertise in Haviland vampires until its return to Sri Lanka. He returned to Sri Lanka in December 1954 and was sent back in 1959 to the Royal Air Force Central Flying School for flight instructor training. Upon his return to Sri Lanka, he became a Flight Instructor at the Royal Ceylon Air Force Flying School, Katunayake.
He was promoted to Wing Commander in 1963 after attending the Staff Course at the Defense Services Staff College, Wellington, where he served as Squadron Commander until about 1961. In 1963, he was promoted to Senior Staff Officer at Air Force Headquarters. He was promoted to Group Captain and in December 1969 was appointed Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
On January 1, 1971, he was about 38 years old and was promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal. Three months after he became the Commander of the Air Force, the revolt of the JVP began. He has made a successful contribution to the uprising, even under very limited facilities. He had to create the Helitours division to raise money for the maintenance of the Air Force, as the then government had to sacrifice much of the money it had spent on the military to rebuild its rebellious economy. He deployed Air Force aircraft and pilots.
His major contribution to the Air Force has been the creation of the current management structure, including the Board of Management. The establishment of the Air Force Academy at Chinabay, Trincomalee for Officer Training, the Single Electronic Maintenance and Training School of the Sri Lanka Air Force (now Vocational Training School) and the establishment of the Air Force Katunayake Commercial Training School for Land Staff Training are also important activities for future generations. He retired as an Air Marshal in 1976.
He later served as Chairman, Commissioner General of Air Ceylon, Civil Defense and Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.
At the time of his death, he was awarded the Patriotic Honorary Award by the Government of Sri Lanka and was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal in 2007, as well as several medals such as the Armed Services Medal of the Republic of Sri Lanka.
On the first day of January 1971, to mark the 50th anniversary of becoming the 4th Commander of the Air Force on January 1, 2021, a ceremony was held at the Air Force Headquarters on January 1, 2021 to pay tribute to him. It was presided over by the present Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshan Pathirana with the participation of the Secretary Defense, General Kamal Gunaratne. He was fortunate to receive such an honor, but it is his good fortune that the present Commander of the Air Force has come up with the idea of doing so.
He used his duty and knowledge for the future security of the motherland on behalf of Mother Sri Lanka. He also provided the vision needed to create a future generation of the Sri Lanka Air Force with courageous leadership. There is no record of any fraud, corruption or irregularities. He also set an example for contemporary military and political leaders, and faced the doctrine of the common and the universal. Air Chief Marshal Deshamanya Pathman Hariprasad Mendis, the youngest Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force to leave a mark that no one can erase as long as the present civilization exists !!!. At Sri Ravana Lanka Media Network, we wish you immortal Nirvana healing.
