From its humble beginnings in 1955 as the Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF) Rugby team, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) can be proud of its achievements in the field of Rugby in the country.
Over the years SLAF has produced some top rugby players of the calibre of Harry Goonetilleke, Jeff Ratnam, Charles Wijewardena, Viper Gunaratne, Ronald Rodrigo, Mohan Balasuriya, Shanthi Mendis, Tikiri Marambe, Nalin de Silva, Chandana Deepthi, Rex Anthony and Charith Seneviratne to name a few.
In 1956, RCyAF participated for the first time in the Inter Service Rugby Championship. The team lost to Navy (0 -3), however, beat the Army 14 -11. RCyAF won the Inter Services Rugby Tournament for the first time in 1957.
1965 was considered a memorable year for RCyAF Rugger as they won the “B” Division Rugby League and qualified to play in A Division Rugby in 1966.
Besides, they reached the finals of the Clifford Cup for the first time. The Clifford Cup final was played on 15 August 1965 at Langdon Place. RCyAF team lost to CR & FC 0 -11 and became the runners up.
In 1975 SLAF rugby team created history, when they won both 'A' Division and ‘B’ Division Rugby League Championships and becoming the first team to achieve this milestone.
During the season, SLAF led by Squadron Leader Shanthi U. Mendis, were victorious in 12 out of 16 games.
In the knockouts they entered the Clifford Cup final by beating Kandy SC led by Iswan Omar in the semis, in extra time.
In the finals, SLAF lost to Army SC in a close match 3-4. Tissa Nanayakkara scored the solitary penalty for SLAF and for Army, it was Winger N. P. Amaradasa who scored the winning try.
Unfortunately for the Air Force, Nanayakkara missed a 35-metre penalty in front of the posts two minutes before full time.
Squadron Leader Tony Dirckze was the Command Rugby Officer whilst Squadron Leader Eddie Buell coached this champion outfit.
SLAF wins Clifford Cup in 1986
The finest moment of SLAF Rugby was the winning of Clifford Cup in 1986 under Corporal Lakshman Caldera beating a star-studded Police SC 10 -8.
In the Quarter Finals, SLAF beat Navy SC 44-10 and beat CH & FC 8-4 in the semi-final.
A try in the extra time by Flying Officer Harsha Fernando helped Air Force SC to beat CH & FC after the scores stood at 4-all at full time.
Air Force SC confronted the mighty Policemen in the final on 16 August 1986 and scored a sensational 10-8 win to clinch club rugby’s richest prize – the Clifford Cup.
Second row forward Corporal Lofty Perera Jnr. scored the solitary try for the Airmen, while Corporal Tony Wimalasuriya fired across two penalties.
The champion Air Force team comprised Sidath Nagahawatte, Abey Dissanayake, Hector Kumarasinghe, Lofty Perera, Rex Anthony, Razali Noordeen, Harsha Fernando, Nalin de Silva, Tikiri Marambe, Tony Wimalasuriya, Lawrence Silva, Sugath Silva, Dhammika Sumanasekera, Wasantha Ratnayake, Lakshman Caldera (Captain), who brought honour and fame to the Air Force.
Air Vice Marshal Brendon Sosa was the Chairperson of SLAF Rugby on this historic occasion and the team was coached by late Air Vice Marshal Channa Gunaratne.
After a considerable period of mediocre performance, SLAF bounced back into reckoning when they reached the finals of Clifford Cup Rugby Tournament in 2019, after a lapse of 33 years.
In the semi-finals SLAF beat Police SC 32 to 23. On 24 March 2019 they met Havelocks SC at the Cup Finals under floodlights at the Race Course ground Colombo. SLAF went down gallantly 21 to 40.
During the on-going 2024 /25 Rugby season, SLAF Rugby team has performed excellently thus qualifying for the Super Round after a lapse of 13 years.
The team led by Rumesh Wasantha will try to give their best at the Super Round as well.
They have won five matches out of eight in the first round. Former Thurstan College and Air Force Flanker, Air Commodore Subash Jayathilake is the Chairperson SLAF Rugby and the incumbent Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe has given tremendous leadership to this young outfit.
(The writer, Air Vice Marshal Padman De Costa is the former Secretary of Air Force Sports Council and Secretary of Defence Services Sports Board)