Don Jay
Air Vice Marshal (retd) KGDN Jayasinghe joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on 17 May 1988, with the 19th Intake as an Officer Cadet and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Technical Engineering Branch in the year 1990. During his training period, he has successfully completed the Basic Combat Course, Basic Administration Course and Branch Training Course at the SLAF Academy in China Bay. He has followed the Junior Command and Staff Course at the Junior Command and Staff College at SLAF Academy China Bay and qualified with a sound academic background in a particular field.
Air Vice Marshal (retd) Jayasinghe possessed a wide range of experiences in the Aeronautical and General Engineering Branch that he mastered through the professional development courses, which included Intermediate Level Electronic Maintenance (Super Scout Advanced Theory Course) in Israel, Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course in United States of America, Setting up Networks at University of Moratuwa, Technical Investigation Course in Pakistan, Squadron Officers Course in Malaysia, Defence Services Command and Staff Course at Defence Services Command and Staff College Sapugaskanda, Senior Engineering Management Orientation Course in Bangalore, India. And he has vast experience in aircraft maintenance, technical administration and demonstrates high level of competence while executing aeronautical and general engineering tasks.
Air Vice Marshal (retd) Jayasinghe held many appointments Engineering Officer at No.02 Heavy Transport Squadron SLAF Base Katunayake, Acting Officer Commanding Maintenance (OCM) at No.03 Maritime Squadron SLAF Academy China Bay, Officer Commanding Technical Services, Quality Assurance Officer and Aeronautical Inspection Service Officer (AISO) at SLAF Base Ratmalana, Officer in Charge Aircraft Preservation and Storage Unit (AP&SU) at SLAF Base Ratmalana, Officer Commanding Maintenance (OCM) No.111 Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV) Squadron at SLAF Base Vavuniya, Officer in Charge Computer Hardware at Information Technology Unit AFHQ Colombo, Officer Commanding Technical Services at SLAF Station Colombo, Staff Officer Aeronautical Engineering III at Directorate of Aeronautical Engineering and Coordinating Officer Seva Vanitha Unit (SVU) and Staff Officer to Commander at Air Secretariat in Air Force Headquarters, Chief Instructor Junior Command and Staff College at SLAF Academy China Bay, Commanding Officer Air Force Museum (AFM) at SLAF Base Ratmalana, Command Quality Assurance Officer and Deputy Director Aeronautical Engineering at Air Force Headquarters, Base Commander SLAF Base Ratmalana and Director General Welfare at Air Force Headquarters before assuming the duties as the Director General, Engineering.
In parallel to his primary duties in the SLAF, he was passionately involved in the aerodynamic research work extensively and was the lead designer of Centenary X Ultra Light, UX 01 , Lihiniya MK I and Lihiniya MK I E UAVs. His long years of aerodynamic research contributions were culminated by his publication ‘Dons Theory on Aerodynamic Lift’ which is an excerpt of his PhD thesis.
