The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) ceremonially handed over a fabricated AI-20D Series 5 turboprop engine of the Antonov An-32B aircraft, together with its propeller assembly and a separate propeller hub, to the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya on the 23rd February 2026.
This landmark initiative represents a significant step forward in strengthening civil–military collaboration in Sri Lanka. By entrusting these critical aerospace components to the University, the SLAF has created a valuable platform for hands-on learning, advanced experimentation, and applied research in propulsion systems, aeronautical engineering, materials science, vibration analysis, and maintenance engineering. The engine and propeller system will serve as a real-world teaching and research asset for undergraduate and postgraduate students, while also enabling collaborative research projects aligned with national priorities in aviation technology, reliability engineering, and indigenous technical capability development.
The ceremonial handover was graced by the Deputy Chief of Staff of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Gihan Seneviratne, and the Director General Aeronautical Engineering, Air Vice Marshal Indika Wickramasinghe. Representing the University were the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Lilantha Samaranayake, and the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Primal Fernando. The occasion was further attended by the Officer Commanding Maintenance of No. 2 Heavy Transport Squadron, Squadron Leader Dishan De Silva, along with members of the SLAF technical crew.
The event underscored the shared commitment of the Sri Lanka Air Force and the University of Peradeniya to advancing aerospace education, fostering innovation, and building national technical capacity. It marks the beginning of a strengthened partnership aimed at bridging operational experience with academic expertise for the benefit of Sri Lanka’s engineering and aviation sectors.
