Harry Goonatilake

Air Chief Marshal W.D. Harry Goonetileke USP, ndc, psc, SLAF (November 27, 1929 – April 11, 2008) was the fifth Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force from November 1, 1976 to April 30, 1981.

Born 27 November 1929, as the only son of a family of five girls, his father was a booking clerk in the Railways Department and became an Assistant Transportation Superintendent at the time of retirement. Educated at the Royal College, Colombo and played of the college rugby team, he would continue to play and coach the air force team as well.

Harry Goonetileke joined the Royal Ceylon Air Force as a Flight Cadet in 1951 in the first batch of locally trained pilots. He received his flight training in the Chipmunk and Balliol aircraft and earning his Wings in 1954, and 4 years later in 1958 was promoted to Squadron Leader. He was one the members of a team that flew to UK and back ferrying the RCyAF's new de Havilland Heron aircraft to Ceylon. His commands included Commanding Officer No. 2 (Transport) Squadron, RCyAF and Commanding Officer of RCyAF China Bay, with responsibility for the Cadet training there. In 1962 he became Station Commander and after further training at Staff College, Wellington he was appointed Director of Operations with responsibility for all flying and ground operations in the Force. In this capacity he played a major role during the 1971 Insurrection. He also began the archival process that led in later years to the formation of the SLAF Museum and contributed greatly to SLAF sports particularly Rugby Football. He was the Chief of Air Staff before being promoted as Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force on November 1, 1976, a post he held till his retirement on April 30, 1981.

In 2007 he was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal along with 9 other former service commanders.

In 1955 he married Marian Perera and had two sons and two daughters. Both his sons joined the Sri Lanka Air Force, his eldest son Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilake is the current Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, his younger son Air Commodore Shirantha Goonatilake RWP, RSP, SLAF was killed in 1995 when the plane he was piloting was shot down by a SAM, to date is the most senior air force officer killed in action.

He died on 11 April 2008. His funeral was held at the General Cemetery Borella, Colombo on 12 April with military honors.