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Roshan Goonetileke | |
|---|---|
| 11thGovernor of the Western Province | |
| In office 24 March 2020 – 25 September 2024 | |
| President | Gotabaya Rajapaksa Ranil Wickramasinghe |
| Preceded by | Seetha Arambepola |
| Succeeded by | Hanif Yusuf |
| Chief of the Defence Staff | |
| In office 28 February 2011 – 1 August 2013 Acting: 16 November 2009 – 27 February 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Sarath Fonseka |
| Succeeded by | Jagath Jayasuriya |
| Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force | |
| In office 11 June 2006 – 27 February 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Perera |
| Succeeded by | Harsha Abeywickrama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1956-02-28)28 February 1956 (age 69) |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Spouse | Nelun Therese Moonemalle[1] |
| Children | Rehan, Ronali |
| Parent | Harry Goonatilake (Father) |
| Alma mater | St. Peter's College, Colombo |
| Occupation | Air Force officer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Sri Lanka |
| Branch/service |  Sri Lanka Air Force |
| Years of service | 13 January 1978 – 1 August 2013(35 years)[2] 2019 -Present |
| Rank |  Marshal of the Air Force |
| Commands | Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force Chief of the Defence Staff |
| Battles/wars | Sri Lankan Civil War |
| Awards | |
Marshal of the Air ForceW. D. M. J. Roshan Goonetileke,RWP and bar,VSV,USP is aSri Lankan senior air force officer. He was a formerGovernor of the Western Province ofSri Lanka.
Born toAir Chief MarshalHarry Goonatilake, he joined theSri Lanka Air Force along with his younger brotherShirantha Goonatilake,[3] who was later killed in action in 1995. Goonatilake served as a pilot in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft, flying operational sorties and served as the commanding officer ofNo. 03 Maritime Squadron andNo. 04 Helicopter Wing. His higher commands included Zonal Commander and SLAF Base commander stints, Director Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations and Chief of Staff, before appointment asCommander of the Sri Lankan Air Force in 2006, serving till 2011. He was appointedChief of the Defence Staff in 2009 in an acting capacity which was confirmed in 2012 and he step down 2013, retiring from the Air Force. He was restored to active service in 2019, when he became the first to be appointed to the rank ofMarshal of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Born on 28 February 1956, toHarry Goonatilake and Marian Perera, he had a younger brotherShirantha Goonatilake and two sisters. Goonatilake completed his education atSt Peter's College, Colombo, where he excelled in both studies and sports.
He followed his father by joining the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet in the General Duties Pilot Branch on 13 January 1978. On successful completion of flying training, he was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on 24 August 1979. Having logged many flying hours both in fixed and rotary wing aircraft serving as an operational pilot, he served as the Commanding Officer of No. 03 Maritime Squadron and No. 04 Helicopter Wing. He functioned as the Zonal Commander in both Northern and Eastern Zones, and commanded Air Force Bases Katunayake, Anuradhapura and China Bay. Goonetileke graduated from theAir Command and Staff College,Air University in 1994 and attendedNational Defence College in Pakistan in 2001. He functioned as Director Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations and Chief of Staff, prior to being appointed the Commander of the Air Force on 12 July 2007.[4] On 18 May 2009, he was promoted Air Chief Marshal, becoming the first ever serving officer of the Sri Lanka Air Force to be promoted to four star rank.
He was appointed as Acting Chief of Defence Staff on 16 November 2009 and was confirmed as Chief of Defence Staff on 28 February 2011 upon relinquishing Command of the Sri Lanka Air Force.[5][6] He was appointed Chairman Board of Management of Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAA of SL) with effect from 5 October 2009 until relinquishing duties on 28 December 2011. He was also appointed as Chairman of Waters Edge Ltd, a government-owned, multi-facility recreational and hospitality complex.
Goonetileke was promoted to the honorary rank ofMarshal of the Air Force by PresidentMaithripala Sirisena on 19 September 2019 for his service as the Commander of the Air Force during the final stage of the Sri Lankan Civil War.[7] It is the highest rank in theSri Lanka Air Force. Marshal of the Air Force is ranked immediately aboveAir Chief Marshal, and has been awarded only once, toRoshan Goonetileke as an honorary rank.[8] It is equivalent toField Marshal in theArmy andAdmiral of the Fleet in theNavy.[9] The insignia is four light blue bands (each on a slightly wider black band) over a light blue band on a black broad band.
He is the first and to-date the only person to hold the rank and third person to be appointed to aFive star rank in Sri Lanka. On promotion to the newly created rank, he was a restored to active service. The appointment coincided with the promotion ofAdmiralWasantha Karannagoda to the newly created rank ofAdmiral of the Fleet. Both promotions had been heavily lobbied for following the promotion of theGeneralSarath Fonseka to the newly created rank ofField Marshal in 2015.
He was appointedGovernor of the Western Province by PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa on 24 March 2020 succeedingSeetha Arambepola who resigned from the post of Governor to accept anational list appointment.[10]
Goonetileke is married to Nelun Therese Moonemalle.[1] They have a son and a daughter, Rehan and Ronali. Rehan, followed the family tradition of joining the Sri Lanka Air Force as a pilot.[11] An avid sportsman, Goonetileke was heavily involved in the development of Sri Lanka Rugby, as the President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union, serving two successful terms from 1 June 2010 to 11 January 2012.
Goonetileke had been awarded theRana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP) two times for gallantry in combat; theservice medals theVishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV) and theUttama Seva Padakkama (USP) for distinguished service, theSri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal with clasp, thePurna Bhumi Padakkama and theNorth and East Operations Medal with two clasps; thecampaign medals theVadamarachchi Operation Medal, theRiviresa Campaign Services Medal with clasp, theEastern Humanitarian Operations Medal, theNorthern Humanitarian Operations Medal and the commemorative medals theSri Lanka Air Force 50th Anniversary Medal, thePresident's Inauguration Medal and the50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal. He has gained theSLAF Pilot Badge and theStaff Qualified Badge.
Goonetileke was admitted to the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) by theUniversity of Kelaniya on 20 November 2009, in recognition of his professional achievements as the Commander of the Air Force. He is also a Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Management in Sri Lanka.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force 2007–2012 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief of Defence Staff 2009 – 2012 | Succeeded by |
