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Oliver Ranasinghe | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Sri Lanka |
| Branch | Sri Lanka Air Force |
| Years of service | 1968-1999 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Unit | No. 4 Squadron SLAF |
| Commands | Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force |
Air Chief MarshalOliver Matthew Ranasinghe,RWP,VSV,USP,ndc,psc was the 9thCommander of the Sri Lankan Air Force.[1]
Educated atDharmapala College, Pannipitiya Ranasinghe joined theRoyal Ceylon Air Force on 7 February 1968 as aSergeant Pilot. He received his Basic Ground Combat training atRCyAF Diyatalawa where he won the trophy for the best marksman. He then went to the Flying Training School atRCyAF China Bay. He trained onde Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunks,de Havilland DH.104 Doves andBAC Jet Provosts, gaining hiswings in 1969. Having piloted both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft in the RCyAF, he went on to command theNo. 4 Squadron and serve asBase CommanderSLAF Anuradhapura. He had attended theAir Command and Staff College, theNational Defence College, New Delhi and completed a Senior Management Course at Monterey, California. He was then appointed Director Operations and thereafter Chief of Staff. On 17 February 1994, he was appointed Commander of the Air Force and promoted to the rank ofAir Marshal. During his tenure the SLAF acquired theIAI Kfirs,Mil Mi-24s andAntonov An-32s.UAVs where also added to its fleet. He retired on 5 March 1999 and he was succeeded byJayalath Weerakkody. His awards includeRana Wickrama Padakkama for gallantry, and the service medalsVishista Seva Vibhushanaya andUttama Seva Padakkama. On 1 October 2007, he was promoted to the rank ofAir Chief Marshal.[2]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force 1996-1999 | Succeeded by |
