Monath Perera

Squadron Leader Monath Erash Perera was a fighter pilot who served in the No. 10 Squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Biography Born on 13 October 1982 in Galle, he completed his education at Mahinda College in Galle.

On March 1 2011, Perera was killed in a mid-air collision. He was flying as number 2 of a two-ship formation of Kfir fighter jets belonging to No. 10 Squadron SLAF based at SLAF Base Katunayake, which were enroute to fly the final rehearsal of the 60th Anniversary of the Sri Lankan Air Force. Although Perera was able to eject, his parachute malfunctioned and he fell to his death. The wreckage of both planes crashed near Yakkala in the Gampaha District. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of squadron leader for his contribution to several Sri Lankan military operations during the civil war. The other pilot in the collision, Squadron Leader Vajira Jayakody, also ejected from his stricken Kfir and parachuted to the ground without incident.