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{{Short description|Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force (born 1957)}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = P.B. Premachandra
| honorific_suffix =
| native_name =
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| image = AVMPBPremachandra2021.png
| image_size =
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1957|05|01}}
| death_date = 
| birth_place =
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| allegiance = Sri Lanka
| branch = [[Sri Lanka Air Force]]
| serviceyears = 32 years (May 25, 1979 - February 1, 2011)
| rank = [[Air Vice Marshal]]
| servicenumber =
| unit =
| commands = Chief of Staff SLAF, Deputy Chief of Staff SLAF, Director of Operations SLAF, Commander - Northern Zonal Command [[Base Commander]] - [[SLAF Katunayake]], [[SLAF Ratmalana]], [[SLAF Anuradhapura]] Air Operations Commander (North)
| battles = [[Sri Lankan Civil War]]
| battles_label =
| awards = {{ubl|[[Rana Wickrama Padakkama]]|[[Rana Sura Padakkama]]|[[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya]]|[[Uttama Seva Padakkama]]|[[Sri Lanka Air Force 50th Anniversary Medal]]|[[Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal]] [[medal clasp|& BAR]]|[[Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal]]|[[Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal]]|[[50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal]]|[[Desha Putra Sammanaya]]|[[North and East Operations Medal]] [[medal clasp|& 2 BARS]]|[[Purna Bhumi Padakkama]]|[[Vadamarachchi Operation Medal]]|[[Riviresa Campaign Services Medal]] [[medal clasp|& BAR]]}}
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}}
[[Air Vice Marshal]] '''P.B. Premachandra''' (born May 1, 1957) is a highly decorated senior Sri Lankan Air Force officer, who served as the [[Chief of Staff]] of the [[Sri Lanka Air Force]].<ref>[http://sundaytimes.lk/060611/columns/sitrep.html Sandagiri steps down and steps up]</ref>

== Early life and education ==
[[Air Vice Marshal]] P.B. Premachandra was born to Rasanayagi and Ponnuduraisamy Balasundaram, a prominent [[Vidane]] of [[Thondaimanaru]]. He was educated at [[Hartley College]] and [[S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia]] where he excelled both in studies and in sports (rugby, volleyball, and athletics).<ref>[https://s3.amazonaws.com/ww-article-cache-1/en/List_of_St._Thomas%2527_College_alumni Prominent Alumni - St. Thomas College]</ref>

[[Air Vice Marshal|AVM]] Premachandra graduated from the [[Air Command and Staff College]], [[Air University (United States)|Air University]] in 1996 and attended the prestigious [[National Defence College, India|National Defence College]], [[New Delhi]] in 2004. He has undergone a number of training Courses including Flight Safety Officers Course, Junior Command and Staff Course, Pakistan, Strategic & Security Studies at both [[Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies|NESA Centre]]-[[National Defense University]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] and [[Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies|Asia Pacific Centre for Securities Studies]], [[Hawaii (U.S. state)|Hawaii]].

== Air Force career ==
[[Air Vice Marshal|AVM]] Premachandra joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an [[Officer Cadet]] in the General Duties Pilot branch, May 25, 1979. After successful completion of Flying Training he was commissioned as a [[Pilot Officer]] on July 9, 1981.

Prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, [[Air Vice Marshal|AVM]] Premachandra held strategic positions in the SLAF Board of Directors, including Deputy Chief of Staff - Operations, Director Operations and Director Training, at [[SLAF Colombo]], Air Force Headquarters.<ref>[https://parliament.lk/uploads/documents/paperspresented/performance-report-srilanka-air-force-2006.pdf Key Appointments]</ref>

During his illustrious career as a highly decorated officer [[Air Vice Marshal|AVM]] Premachandra held several key commands including Commander - [[Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni|Northern Zonal Command]], Air Operations Commander [[Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni|(North)]], [[Base Commander]] of [[SLAF Katunayake]], [[SLAF Ratmalana]] and [[SLAF Anuradhapura]], as well as having commanded the [[No. 1 Wing SLAF|No. 1 Flying Training Wing]], the [[No. 2 Squadron SLAF|No. 2 Transport Wing]] and the [[No. 8 Squadron SLAF|No. 8 Light Transport Squadron]].

AVM Premachandra has over 5000 flying hours on both [[fixed-wing]] and [[Rotorcraft|rotary]] aircraft.<ref>Asian Tribune, May 11, 2011</ref>

For his gallant and selfless contributions and individual acts of bravery during the civil conflict, [[Air Vice Marshal]] Premachandra was awarded the prestigious [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama]], [[Rana Sura Padakkama]], and [[Desha Putra Sammanaya]] in addition to campaign and operational medals. In recognition of his distinguished and exemplary service to the nation he has been awarded the [[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya]],<ref>[https://www.nation.lk/2008/05/11/militarym.htm Vishishta Seva Vibushana decoration for 37]</ref> [[Uttama Seva Padakkama]] and [[Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal]].

Worthy to note, [[Air Vice Marshal|AVM]] Premachandra is to date the senior most Tamil officer in the Sri Lankan Air Force, and one of the most highly decorated Tamil flag officers across the Sri Lanka military.<ref>[https://www.nation.lk/2011/02/20/news13.htm Golden opportunity lost]</ref><ref>[https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/sri-lanka/mod.htm Sinhalese-Tamil reconciliation and empowerment]</ref>

=== Notable incidents during the Sri Lankan Civil War ===
[[Air Vice Marshal]] Premachandra was the first Sri Lankan aviator to be injured in action. In 1986, the helicopter [[Air Vice Marshal|AVM]] Premachandra was captaining as part of a joint operation with the [[Special Task Force (Sri Lanka)|STF]] came under enemy fire near [[A5 road (Sri Lanka)|Karadiyanaru]] and [[Vavunativu]]. In addition to the helicopter sustaining damages he was the only one on board to be injured, yet he managed to fly the several soldiers in his charge back to safety. He was awarded the [[Desha Putra Sammanaya]] for his act of selfless heroism.<ref>Asian Tribune, May 11, 2011</ref>

For his individual acts of bravery in the face of the enemy as a combat helicopter pilot [[Air Vice Marshal|AVM]] Premachandra was awarded the [[Rana Sura Padakkama]].<ref>[http://www.airforce.lk/rsp.php Recipients of Rana Sura Padakkama]</ref>

[[Air Vice Marshal|AVM]] Premachandra, along with a handful of pilots, volunteered to fly several transport missions critical to the war effort when others wouldn't because of ineffective measures against attacks (e.g., anti-missile defense measures). He was awarded the [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama]] "for these individual acts of bravery in the face of the enemy performed voluntarily".<ref>[http://www.airforce.lk/rwp.php Recipients of Rana Wickrama Padakkama]</ref>

== Personal life ==
He is married to Vasuki and has two daughters, Bharathy & Pathanchali, and one son, Arjuna.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.airforce.lk/ Official Website of Sri Lanka Air Force]
*[https://parliament.lk/uploads/documents/paperspresented/performance-report-srilanka-air-force-2006.pdf Performance report of Sri Lanka Air Force 2006]

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Roshan Goonatilake]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of Staff]] of the [[Sri Lanka Air Force]]|years=2006–}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Premachandra, P. B.}}
[[Category:Sri Lanka Air Force air vice-marshals]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan aviators]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia]]
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka Air Force Academy graduates]]
[[Category:Air Command and Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:Alumni of Hartley College]]
[[Category:National Defence College, India alumni]]

P. B. Premachandra - Revision history

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