Embedded Files
1946 - 1951
1946 - 1951
Colombo Airport, Ratmalana, Ceylon
Department of Civil Aviation
Department of Civil Aviation
After the war, Amerasekera changed his middle name from Edward to Rohan. His service record in the Department of Civil Aviation and the Royal Ceylon Air Force reflects this change. Though he was a Christian, he was very much interested in Buddhist Philosophy, even during the war, and became an ardent student of Spiritualism, Mysticism and mooted for a 'Universal Religion'. He also wrote six booklets about these subjects.
He joined the Department of Civil Aviation in Ceylon on Aug 20, 1946 as the Assistant Aerodrome Officer (Flying Control) at the Colombo Airport in Ratmalana, while on leave from the RAF,
Amerasekera arrived in Southampton UK on February 19, 1949 on the M.V.Oranje to attend a Air Traffic Controller course at the Watchfield RAF Training School.
Note: Air traffic control - Watchfield was also involved in Air Traffic Control as the School of Air Traffic Control used Watchfield between 1 November 1946 and 10 February 1950 before moving to RAF Shawbury (Central Navigation and Control School, (prior to Mar. 1950 known as Central Navigation School, Shawbury AIR 29/1792)
In 1950, the Central Navigation School joined the School of Air Traffic Control (from RAF Watchfield in south-west Oxfordshire), to form the Central Navigation and Control School (CN & CS).
Photo of Rohan Amerasekera taken from his Drivers License
Passenger List of the M V Oranje
He used this opportunity to meet up with some of the former crew members of 158 and 640 Squadrons. On Oct 1, 1950, he was promoted to Acting Airport Controller. He left this Department on May 15, 1951 to join the newly formed Royal Ceylon Air Force under the Commandership of G/Cpt. Graham Clerke Bladon OBE, an officer seconded from the R.A.F.
Booklets written by Rohan Amerasekera on Karma and Spiritualism
The first book in the series contained the following introduction:
FOREWORD
A whole life-time, nay, many life times were packed into a few years of my life in the Second World War. I volunteered for the Royal Air Force in search of adventure and I had an abundance of it. I found myself in the midst of death and destruction, in the thick of fun and gaiety. I understood joy and sorrow, as I saw them then, amidst life and death. I had friends today and they were gone tomorrow. I became callous and insensitive to finer feelings. I began to live for the day. Money, friends, everything was only for the day.
At the end of so much death and destruction and the release of pent up feelings and nervous tensions within me, I began to wonder what this was all about. Is there a meaning in life or are we like drift wood tossing aimlessly on the ocean? Was there a purpose in the changes that took place for me so fast and so furiously? Why were so many maimed, why did so many die and I remain unscathed?
I spent hours delving into books, thinking and meditating. An understanding of Karma now points to me the true significance and purpose of life. I venture to communicate to you this understanding which guides my life.
E. R. A.
Royal Ceylon Air Force,
22nd January, 1965
The Six Booklets written by Rohan Amerasekera [The full contents are found on my website www.ceylonmedals.com
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