SriLankan Aviation College celebrated the 47th anniversary of SriLankan Airlines with a special edition of its aviation talk series, The Skyline Stories, paying tribute to the pioneering aviators of Air Lanka and the new generation carrying their legacy forward.
The sixth episode of the series traced the journey of the National Carrier from its founding in 1979 as Air Lanka to its present identity as SriLankan Airlines, highlighting how the values and experiences of its early flight crew continue to resonate in the country’s aviation industry today.
The session featured Captain Shavantha Pedris and Senior First Officer Nuwan Jayawickrama, whose fathers, Captain Ranjit Pedris and Captain Nihal Jayawickrama, were among Air Lanka’s pioneering crew. Their participation created a symbolic bridge between generations, underscoring the airline’s role in shaping Sri Lanka’s aviation and tourism sectors over nearly five decades.
Captain Pedris reflected on his father’s influence, saying aviation had surrounded him from childhood and inspired his career path. “Each experience has shaped who I am and strengthened my passion for aviation. Now, I feel it is my turn to give back to the industry that has given me so much,” he said.
Senior First Officer Jayawickrama added that while aviation was part of his family life, building his own career meant learning from his father’s journey rather than simply following it. “Every career has its own challenges, and it is how you respond to them that shapes you as a professional,” he noted.
As the training arm of the National Carrier, SriLankan Aviation College uses The Skyline Stories to connect students with leading aviators and industry professionals, bridging classroom learning with real‑world experiences. (Newswire)