The Air Force Christmas Carols 2021 was held last week under the theme ‘Christmas in the Arctic’. This starry event was held under the patronage of the First Lady Ioma Rajapaksa at the Eagles’ Lake Side Banquet and Convention Hall in Attidiya. The Air Force Christmas Carols was held this year after a lap of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year the Air Force Choir was made up of members of the Directorate of Performing Arts and saw Squadron Leader, Gayan Joseph at the helm as the conductor for the first time in the history of Air Force Carol Performances. The event was hosted by Squadron Leaders, Radhika Ranaweera and Lilangi Randeni and the SLAF Dancing Troop performed colorful nativity scenes.
The Governor of the Western Province, Marshal of the Air Force, Roshan Goonatilleke andN elun Goonatilleke, the Chairperson of the Seva Vanitha Unit to the Ministry of Defence, Chithrani Gunaratne together with the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), the Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva and Sujeeva Nelson, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne and Chandima Ulugetenne, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Members of the Air Force Board of Management with their spouses, were among the distinguished invitees this year.
This year’s Air Force Christmas Carols was held with restricted participation due to the COVID-19 situation in the country and rapid antigen tests were carried out on all invites as well, in order to prevent any unexpected situations.