Roshan Goonetileke | |
|---|---|
| 11th Governor of the Western Province | |
| In office 24 March 2020 – 25 September 2024 | |
| President | Gotabaya Rajapaksa Ranil Wickramasinghe |
| Preceded by | Seetha Arambepola |
| Succeeded by | Hanif Yusuf |
| Chief of the Defence Staff | |
| In office 28 February 2011 – 1 August 2013 Acting: 16 November 2009 – 27 February 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Sarath Fonseka |
| Succeeded by | Jagath Jayasuriya |
| Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force | |
| In office 11 June 2006 – 27 February 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Perera |
| Succeeded by | Harsha Abeywickrama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 February 1956 |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Spouse | Nelun Therese Moonemalle[1] |
| Children | Rehan, Ronali |
| Parent | Harry Goonatilake (Father) |
| Alma mater | St. Peter's College, Colombo |
| Occupation | Air Force officer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Sri Lanka |
| Branch/service |  Sri Lanka Air Force |
| Years of service | 13 January 1978 – 1 August 2013 (35 years) [2] 2019 - Present |
| Rank |  Marshal of the Air Force |
| Commands | Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force Chief of the Defence Staff |
| Battles/wars | Sri Lankan Civil War |
| Awards | |
Marshal of the Air Force W. D. M. J. Roshan Goonetileke, RWP and bar, VSV, USP is a Sri Lankan senior air force officer. He was a former Governor of the Western Province of Sri Lanka.
Born to Air Chief Marshal Harry Goonatilake, he joined the Sri Lanka Air Force along with his younger brother Shirantha Goonatilake,[3] who was later killed in action in 1995. Goonatilake served as a pilot in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft, flying operational sorties and served as the commanding officer of No. 03 Maritime Squadron and No. 04 Helicopter Wing. His higher commands included Zonal Commander and SLAF Base commander stints, Director Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations and Chief of Staff, before appointment as Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force in 2006, serving till 2011. He was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff in 2009 in an acting capacity which was confirmed in 2012 and he step down 2013, retiring from the Air Force. He was restored to active service in 2019, when he became the first to be appointed to the rank of Marshal of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
- ^ "'I chose a life of double commitment'; Nelun, talks about life with Air Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke". sundayobserver.lk. 11 November 2007.
- ^ Sri Lanka : New Sri Lanka Air Force Commander to be appointed. Colombopage.com (25 February 2011). Retrieved on 2012-08-21.
- ^ "Three generations of Goonetilekes in SLAF". sundayobserver.lk. 12 April 2009.