| Sri Lanka Air Force Museum | |
| Established: | 1993 |
| Location: | Ratmalana, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia |
| Type: | Aviation museum |
| Website: | Official Website of the SLAF Museum |
The Sri Lanka Air Force Museum (SLAF Museum) is the museum of the Sri Lanka Air Force, and its predecessor, the Royal Ceylon Air Force. Open to the public, the museum is at the SLAF Ratmalana and is maintained by the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The brainchild of Air Chief Marshal Harry Goonatilake, former Commander of the Air Force, the museum exhibits, amongst other things, former aircraft and equipment of the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Royal Ceylon Air Force. Notable items include the medals and sword of Air Vice Marshal E. R. Amarasekara, the first Ceylonese Commander of the Air Force.[1]
The Sri Lanka Air Force museum is the only national museum dedicated entirely to aviation and the history of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The museum was first established in 1993 as the Aircraft Preservation and Storage Unit at SLAF Ratmalana and was reopened on 5 November 2009 after refurbishment.[2]
The museum exhibits historic aircraft, vehicles, uniforms and weapons. The museum consists of the main hangar, outdoor exhibits and hangar numbers 1, 2 and 3.[3] Aircraft that have been preserved by the SLAF. A few of these fly but most are held by SLAF Museum. The museum also has remnants of Japanese aircraft shot down over Ceylon during World War 2 and artifacts from the LTTE aircraft[4] shot down during the Suicide Air Raid on Colombo. An Austin Fire Fighting Vehicle and a Shorland armoured car used by the Sri Lanka Air Force is exhibited as well.