President opens Air Force museum

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday opened the Air Force museum depicting the 58 year old history of the Air Force.

The President also launched the museum website. Associated with him were Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunga, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunatilleke.

Items depicting the evolution of the air industry since the first air plane by the Wright brothers together with the machines by the Air Force during its 58 years, is housed in the museum.

The Sri Lanka Air Force Museum is said to be the only national museum dedicated entirely to aviation and the history of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The museum is situated at the Ratmalana Air Base in a seven acre land.

A visit to this establishment would be a unique experience for enthusiasts of aviation of all ages.

The museum offers an insight not only into the history of the Sri Lanka Air Force but also a comprehensive picture of aviation in general. Starting from the RAF operations of World War II to the combat operations of the SLAF in the recent past, the museum offers a detailed depiction of the evolution which has shaped the Sri Lanka Air Force in to the world class fighting force it is, an Air Force officer said.

The museum had been first established in 1993 as the Aircraft Preservation and Storage Unit at the Air Force Base Ratmalana with the intention of preserving history of aviation in Sri Lanka in general and the history of Sri Lanka Air Force in particular.

Being located within an operational air base it gives the museum a real life appeal.

Considering the value of depicting Air Force history, steps had been taken to initiate a special project in 2008 with the intention of modernizing the museum.

Under this project Aircraft Preservation and Storage Unit has been restructured as Sri Lanka Air Force Museum, sources added.

Among the exhibits at the museum are equipment, vehicles and weapons.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Sundays.

******** Air Force museum:

*First established in 1993 as Aircraft Preservation and Storage Unit

*Among exhibits are equipment, vehicles and weapons.