Monath Perera

Squadron Leader Monath Erash Perera was a fighter jet pilot who served in the No. 10 squadron of Sri Lanka Air Force. He was killed on 1 March 2011 when two Kfir jets belonging to No. 10 Jet Squadron of SLAF Base Katunayake, which were en route to fly the final rehearsal of the Sri Lanka Air Force 60th anniversary, crashed near Yakkala in Gampaha District. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of squadron leader in consideration of his contribution to the Sri Lankan military operations during the Eelam war.

Born on 13 October 1982 in Galle, he completed his school education at Mahinda College, Galle. Monath Perera joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on 1 August 2004 and was commissioned as a Pilot officer in July, 2005. He played a major role during the last phase of the Sri Lankan civil war, having joined the jet squadron to fly the Kfirs in 2007. Monath who was promoted to the rank of flight lieutenant in 2010, had completed 450 air time hours and participated in 75 operations during his service period.