The President Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremonially re-opened the refurbished Air Force Museum at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Ratmalana on 05th November 2009. The President also launched the museum web site.
The museum, originally set up as the air craft preservation & storage unit (AP&SU) in the year 1993 with the intention of preserving the aviation history of Sri Lanka and the history of SLAF has been restructured as the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Museum depicting the 58 year old history of SLAF. It is the only national museum dedicated to aviation and the related history of SLAF in the Island and is the largest Air Force museum in Asia. The museum is situated in a seven acre land inside the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Ratmalana. Items and equipment showing the evolution of the industry of aviation since the first aircraft by Wright Brothers along with the machines by the SL Air Force during its 58 years are kept for exhibition at the museum.
According to an innovative concept of the Air Chief Marshal W.D.M.R.J. Goonetileke, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, the modernization of the Air Force museum was implemented in 2008 and new exhibits and facilities were also added to the museum.
The museum has several hangers consisting photo galleries, mini theatres and air crafts of historical importance as well as equipment and arms used since 1951. Several vintage air crafts, vehicles and equipment in the museum have been restored to operational conditions by a dedicated team of Air Force engineers and technicians.
Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunga, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Chief Marshal W.D.M.R.J. Goonetileke were also present at the occasion of the re-opening of the SLAF museum.
The SLAF museum is now open to the public on all days except Sunday, Monday, Public Holidays and Poya days from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. Reservations to visit the museum can also be made contacting the Commanding Officer of the SLAF museum on 011 2625111 or in writing, to the Commanding Officer, the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum, Ratmalana.
(Special thanks to Wing Commander Janake Nanayakkara, Flight Lieutenant Sampath Perera and Serjeant R.S.S.Rathnaweera)