Air Vice Marshal Edirisinghe appointed new SLAF Commander

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   
Air Vice Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe has been appointed as the new Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).  
Currently serving as the Director General of Planning at the SLAF, Edirisinghe is set to take over command following the retirement of the current Commander, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa.   
Air Marshal Rajapaksa, the 19th Commander of the Air Force, is scheduled to retire on January 29.  
Born on June 20, 1970, in Kandy, Air Vice Marshal Edirisinghe is an alumnus of St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy.   
He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet in 1991, as part of the 24th intake. Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in 1993, he initially trained on the SF 260 Warrior and was posted to the Transport Wing for advanced fixed-wing training. Later, due to a shortage of rotary-wing pilots, he was reassigned and completed training on the Bell 206/212/412 helicopters in the same year.   
He was operationally cleared to fly helicopters and was posted to Bell 212 utility helicopter squadron for flying duties. He earned his captaincy as a well performed pilot and involved in Utility flying in North and East of the country.