P. B. Premachandra

Air Vice Marshal P.B. Premachandra RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc, qfi, SLAF is the current Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Educated at S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia where he excelled both in studies and in sports, 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.

Premachandra graduated of the Air Command and Staff College, Air University in 1996 and in 2004 he attended National Defence College, New Delhi. He has undergone a number of training Courses including Flight Safety Officers Course, and Junior Command and Staff Course, Pakistan, Strategic & Security Studies at both NESA Centre-National Defense University, Washington and Asia Pacific Centre, Hawaii.

During his career he has commanded the No. 1 Flying Training Wing, the No. 2 Transport Wing and the No. 8 Light Transport Squadron. He had served as the Director Training, Director Operations at Air Force Headquarters, Commander - Northern Zonal Command, Air Operations Commander North and had been the Base Commander of SLAF Katunayake, SLAF Ratmalana and SLAF Anuradhapura. Prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff he was the Deputy Chief of Staff at SLAF Colombo, Air Force Headquarters.

Air Vice Marshal Premachandra has been awarded the gallantry medals Rana Wickrama Padakkama, Rana Sura Padakkama, and Desha Putra Sammanaya for individual acts of bravery, the service medals Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, Uttama Seva Padakkama and Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal.

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