AVM Premachandra joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet in the General Duties Pilot branch, May 25, 1979. After successful completion of Flying Training he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on July 9, 1981.
Prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, AVM Premachandra held strategic positions in the SLAF Board of Directors, including Deputy Chief of Staff - Operations, Director Operations and Director Training, at SLAF Colombo, Air Force Headquarters.[3]
Worthy to note, AVM Premachandra is to date the senior most Tamil officer in the Sri Lankan Air Force, and one of the most highly decorated Tamil flag officers across the Sri Lanka military.[6][7]
Notable incidents during the Sri Lankan Civil War
Air Vice Marshal Premachandra was the first Sri Lankan aviator to be injured in action. In 1986, the helicopter AVM Premachandra was captaining as part of a joint operation with the STF came under enemy fire near Karadiyanaru and Vavunativu. In addition to the helicopter sustaining damages he was the only one on board to be injured, yet he managed to fly the several soldiers in his charge back to safety. He was awarded the Desha Putra Sammanaya for his act of selfless heroism.[8]
For his individual acts of bravery in the face of the enemy as a combat helicopter pilot AVM Premachandra was awarded the Rana Sura Padakkama.[9]
AVM Premachandra, along with a handful of pilots, volunteered to fly several transport missions critical to the war effort when others wouldn't because of ineffective measures against attacks (e.g., anti-missile defense measures). He was awarded the Rana Wickrama Padakkama "for these individual acts of bravery in the face of the enemy performed voluntarily".[10]
Personal life
He is married to Vasuki and has two daughters, Bharathy & Pathanchali, and one son, Arjuna.
premachandra, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, must, removed, immediately, especially, potenti. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately especially if potentially libelous or harmful Find sources P B Premachandra news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Air Vice Marshal P B Premachandra born May 1 1957 is a highly decorated senior Sri Lankan Air Force officer who served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force 1 P B PremachandraBorn 1957 05 01 May 1 1957AllegianceSri LankaService wbr branchSri Lanka Air ForceYears of service32 years May 25 1979 February 1 2011 RankAir Vice MarshalCommands heldChief of Staff SLAF Deputy Chief of Staff SLAF Director of Operations SLAF Commander Northern Zonal CommandBase Commander SLAF Katunayake SLAF Ratmalana SLAF AnuradhapuraAir Operations Commander North Battles warsSri Lankan Civil WarAwardsRana Wickrama PadakkamaRana Sura PadakkamaVishista Seva VibhushanayaUttama Seva PadakkamaSri Lanka Air Force 50th Anniversary MedalSri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal amp BARNorthern Humanitarian Operations MedalEastern Humanitarian Operations Medal50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration MedalDesha Putra SammanayaNorth and East Operations Medal amp 2 BARSPurna Bhumi PadakkamaVadamarachchi Operation MedalRiviresa Campaign Services Medal amp BAR Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Air Force career 2 1 Notable incidents during the Sri Lankan Civil War 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and education EditAir Vice Marshal P B Premachandra was born to Rasanayagi and Ponnuduraisamy Balasundaram a prominent Vidane of Thondaimanaru He was educated at Hartley College and S Thomas College Mt Lavinia where he excelled both in studies and in sports rugby volleyball and athletics 2 AVM Premachandra graduated from the Air Command and Staff College Air University in 1996 and attended the prestigious National Defence College New Delhi in 2004 He has undergone a number of training Courses including Flight Safety Officers Course Junior Command and Staff Course Pakistan Strategic amp Security Studies at both NESA Centre National Defense University Washington and Asia Pacific Centre for Securities Studies Hawaii Air Force career EditAVM Premachandra joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet in the General Duties Pilot branch May 25 1979 After successful completion of Flying Training he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on July 9 1981 Prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force AVM Premachandra held strategic positions in the SLAF Board of Directors including Deputy Chief of Staff Operations Director Operations and Director Training at SLAF Colombo Air Force Headquarters 3 During his illustrious career as a highly decorated officer AVM Premachandra held several key commands including Commander Northern Zonal Command Air Operations Commander North Base Commander of SLAF Katunayake SLAF Ratmalana and SLAF Anuradhapura as well as having commanded the No 1 Flying Training Wing the No 2 Transport Wing and the No 8 Light Transport Squadron AVM Premachandra has over 5000 flying hours on both fixed wing and rotary aircraft 4 For his gallant and selfless contributions and individual acts of bravery during the civil conflict Air Vice Marshal Premachandra was awarded the prestigious Rana Wickrama Padakkama Rana Sura Padakkama and Desha Putra Sammanaya in addition to campaign and operational medals In recognition of his distinguished and exemplary service to the nation he has been awarded the Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya 5 Uttama Seva Padakkama and Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal Worthy to note AVM Premachandra is to date the senior most Tamil officer in the Sri Lankan Air Force and one of the most highly decorated Tamil flag officers across the Sri Lanka military 6 7 Notable incidents during the Sri Lankan Civil War Edit Air Vice Marshal Premachandra was the first Sri Lankan aviator to be injured in action In 1986 the helicopter AVM Premachandra was captaining as part of a joint operation with the STF came under enemy fire near Karadiyanaru and Vavunativu In addition to the helicopter sustaining damages he was the only one on board to be injured yet he managed to fly the several soldiers in his charge back to safety He was awarded the Desha Putra Sammanaya for his act of selfless heroism 8 For his individual acts of bravery in the face of the enemy as a combat helicopter pilot AVM Premachandra was awarded the Rana Sura Padakkama 9 AVM Premachandra along with a handful of pilots volunteered to fly several transport missions critical to the war effort when others wouldn t because of ineffective measures against attacks e g anti missile defense measures He was awarded the Rana Wickrama Padakkama for these individual acts of bravery in the face of the enemy performed voluntarily 10 Personal life EditHe is married to Vasuki and has two daughters Bharathy amp Pathanchali and one son Arjuna References Edit Sandagiri steps down and steps up Prominent Alumni St Thomas College Key Appointments Asian Tribune May 11 2011 Vishishta Seva Vibushana decoration for 37 Golden opportunity lost Sinhalese Tamil reconciliation and empowerment Asian Tribune May 11 2011 Recipients of Rana Sura Padakkama Recipients of Rana Wickrama PadakkamaExternal links EditOfficial Website of Sri Lanka Air Force Performance report of Sri Lanka Air Force 2006Military officesPreceded byRoshan Goonatilake Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force2006 Incumbent Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title P B Premachandra amp oldid 1111009608, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
