Edward Amerasakera

Infobox Military Person
name=Ekanayake Edward Rohan Amerasekera
lived=May 21, 1916 – March 20, 1974
placeofbirth=Kegalle, Ceylon
placeofdeath=Colombo, Sri Lanka


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= flagicon|Sri Lanka Ceylon
flag|United Kingdom
serviceyears=19 years (RCyAF)
8 years (RAF)
rank=Air Vice-Marshal (RCyAF)
Flight Lieutenant (RAF)
branch=
air force|United Kingdom
branch
commands=Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force
unit=
battles= World War II
awards=Distinguished Flying Cross & BAR,
1939-1945 Star,
Air Crew Europe Star with the France and Germany Bar,
Defence Medal,
War Medal
laterwork=
Air Vice-Marshal Ekanayake Edward Rohan Amerasekera DFC & BAR, RCyAF (May 21, 1916 – March 20, 1974) third Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force and World War II Royal Air Force Navigator.

Early life and education

Born in Kegalle, Ceylon on May 21, 1916, was one of the seven children of Edward Henry Ekanayake Amerasekera and Joslina Amerasekera (nee de Silva Samarasinghe Siriwardena). Orphaned at the age of four, he was brought up by his uncle and aunt, Victor and Eda de Silva Siriwardena and later lived with his eldest sister, Hyacinth and her husband, Ashley Peiris at 'Ash Court', Kegalle. He received his education at Wesley College, Colombo (1925-29), Kingswood College, Kandy (1929-32), St. Mary's College, Kegalle (1933-34) and at the Pembroke Academy (1935-39).

RAF career

With outbreak of World War II Edward joined Ceylon Defence Force but was forced out by his sister and other family members. He then, secretly applied to join the Royal Air Force on September 19, 1940, was selected and left for England with the first batch of RAF Recruits from Ceylon in June 1941 on the S.S. Exeter. He was commissioned while serving with No. 158 Squadron as a Pilot Officer, General Duties (Navigator) Branch RAFVR. He flew as part of Halifax bomber crew. In 1943 he transferred to No. 35 Squadron of the Pathfinder Force but went back to his old squadron. Amerasekera was promoted to Flying Officer on January 29, 1944 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. In August 1944 he joined No. 640 Squadron, serving till 1945. In 1945 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and was awarded the Bar to the DFC.

In addition to the DFC and Bar, he received the 1939-1945 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star with the France and Germany Bar, the Defence Medal and the War Medal. He returned to Ceylon in Early 1946 and served at RAF Kandy, Ceylon until August 1946 and resigned his commission on November, 1946.

Civil Aviation

Amerasekera joined the Department of Civil Aviation on August 20, 1946 as the Assistant Aerodrome Officer (Flying Control) at the Ratmalana Airport, while on leave from the RAF, and on October 1, 1950, he was promoted to Acting Airport Controller.

Royal Ceylon Air Force

He left this Department on May 1951 to join the newly formed Royal Ceylon Air Force under the Command of Group captain Graham Bladon, an officer seconded from the RAF. On May 15, 1951 he was commissioned as Pilot Officer (Service number 01002) and promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader with effect from the same date.1955 he was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander, followed by promotions to the ranks of Group Captain (July 1, 1959), Temporary Air Commodore (November 13, 1962), Air Commodore (January 1, 1964) and Air Vice-Marshal (October 1, 1967). Thus becoming third Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force in 1962.

While with the RCyAF, Ameresekera trained as a Pilot, first in Chipmunks and later in the Jet Provost under the guidance of 'Paddy' Mendis, who would later succeed him as Commander of the RCyAF. Whilst in RCyAF, Amerasekera received the Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal and the Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal .

Rohan Amerasekera died on March 20, 1974 at the age of 57, and is survived by his widow Aloma (nee Dender) whom he had married on November 12, 1958, his son and daughter. He was accorded a funeral with full military honours by the Government of Sri Lanka. His ceremonial sword and the miniature medals are on display at the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum.

Referenece

* [http://www.airforce.lk/hist/pastcmdr.htm Air Force Commanders]
* [http://members.iinet.net.au/~tcosgrove/rohan.html A Dedication to Rohan Amerasekera]

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