Chief Inspector Sanjaya Attygalle of the Police Special Task Force created history in the police service, along with other skydivers representing the Tri Forces, when he jumped out of an MI-17 carrying the Police Flag at the Independence Day Parade yesterday at the Galle Face Green. It was the first time that this feat was performed by a police officer.
Sanjaya, a past pupil of Sri Palee Vidyalaya, Horana, joined the STF in 1997 and served the motherland for 20 years. During his career he was posted to operational areas, VIP Division and the elite SWAT team. He is presently attached to the UN Mission stationed in Sudan.
Sanjaya who received his basic airborne training in 2007 at the Katunayake Air Base, where he excelled as the best paratrooper. He looks back with gratitude to former DIG Nimal Lewke, who was instrumental in the initiation of the parachute element of the STF.
Sanjaya trained for three months and did his basic sky diving, starting at 13,000 feet. The jump now, was done from a height of 6000 feet, although an expert combat free faller can enter the cloudy domain at 25,000 feet, using a high altitude- high opening parachute to close in on a given target, fully armed.
CI Attygalle expressed his thanks to the present Commandant, S/DIG Latthif, for his enthusiastic support and hopes to share this unique experience with his comrades.