1951 - 1970

Amerasekera joined 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. On May 15, 1951 he was commissioned as Pilot Officer (Service number 01002) and promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader with effect from the same date.

As mentioned in the letter Amerasekera started flying lessons immediately and his log book records his first lesson on May 18, 1951.

While in R.Cy.A.F. he attended the following Courses- No 67 Officers Advanced Training School course at RAF School of Administration, Bircham Newton (Jan 5 to Feb 27, 1953), No 24(A) Long Photographic Intelligence Course (Strategical Wing) at RAF Wyton (March 2 to April 2, 1953), No 11 Staff College course at RAF Staff College, Andover (April 1953 to March 1954) and the Senior Officers Course at the Imperial Defence College, London (Jan 4 to Dec 15, 1961).

On Oct 1, 1955 he was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander, followed by promotions to the ranks of Group Captain (July 1, 1959), Temporary Air Commodore (Nov 13, 1962), Air Commodore (Jan 1, 1964) and Air Vice-Marshal (Oct 1, 1967).

Rohan Amerasekera held the following appointments in the RCyAF- Senior Air Staff Officer, Air Force HQ, Colombo from May 14, 1955 to May 21, 1955, Chief of Staff, Air Force HQ, Colombo from May 21, 1955 to Dec 17, 1960, Senior Air Staff Officer, HQ Unit, Colombo from April 22, 1962 to Nov 13, 1962.

While with the RCyAF, Amerasekera trained as a Pilot, first in Chipmunks and later in the Jet Provost under the guidance of 'Paddy' Mendis, who would later succeed him as Commander of the RCyAF. Mendis recalls that though Amerasekera wore his full Wings as a Pilot, he had a soft corner for the Half Wing he wore as a Navigator on his many missions over Germany.

On Nov 13, 1962 the astrologer's prediction came true when he became the first Ceylonese Commander of the R.Cy.A.F., succeeding A/V/M. John Lindsay Barker CB, CBE, DFC.

Air Commodore E. Rohan Amerasekera DFC took over as the first Ceylonese Commander of the RCyAF, succeeding AVM Barker.

If Commanders Bladon and Barker had set up and developed the RCyAF, Air Commodore Amerasekera consolidated it.

Air Cdre Amerasekera pursued the Ceylonisation of the RCyAF and was instrumental in drafting the Queen’s Regulations to suit local conditions. He also introduced the official language, Sinhala, into the day to day working of the Force.

The "History of the SLAF - Vol 1" mentions Amerasekera's period of command as follows:

Amerasekera was a simple and modest man, not given to ostentation. Summing up his policy on assuming office, he said "We have been building up all these years. Now I want to consolidate and make things run in routine fashion."

Asked to speak of his achievements he replied modestly "All that I say is that if I have achieved anything, it is due to a simple way of living, patience and perseverance." Of his RAF days, Amerasekera recalled "It was a wonderful experience; we simply lived in them forgetting everything else."

Financial constraints during Amerasekera's term of office also prevented any real expansion and the RCyAF with its high standards of maintenance kept the existing squadrons in operation. These aircraft were effectively used in TAFFI operations in the North and North West of the country with peace reigning in the country and visible external threat. There was no apparent requirement to expand the force. The flights overseas to the Far East and India continued giving wide experience to the pilots of No 2 Transport Squadron.

During Amerasekera's tour of command, ACM Elworthy, Chief of Staff of the RAF paid a courtesy call to Airforce HQ. Amerasekera also maintained contact with Commonwealth Service Commanders, attending conferences Minerva and Unison in September 1963, 1965 and 1967.

Amerasekera retired from the post of the Commander of the RCyAF on Dec 31, 1970 after nineteen years and seven months service in the Royal Ceylon Air Force, handing over command to A/Cdr Padman "Paddy" Hariprasadha Mendis.