The Air Force Sports Color Night is a special occasion to appreciate the achievements of Air Force sportspersons and the dedication of all stakeholders involved in the field of sports. The Varna Night event was first held in 1964 by the Royal Ceylon Air Force and followed in 1962 and 1963.
In memory of Flight Lieutenant Appappillai Varadarasa, who died in an air crash at Chinakuta Air Force Academy, the Player of the Year Award was given and named as Varadarasa Memorial Cup.
Accordingly, Flight Sergeant Bertie Ekanayake became the first Air Force woman to win the Varadarasa Memorial Trophy and Senior Airman Hatunsuriya, who represented the sport of shooting as the first Air Force woman to receive Air Force colours, cemented their names in the annals of Air Force sports history.
For the first time in the history of Sri Lankan Air Force sports under the leadership of the Air Chief Marshal Air Marshal Utheni Rajapaksa, cash prizes were also awarded to the athletes who demonstrated their talents in 2022 and 2023.
Organized every two years, the Air Force Sports Color Night will evaluate 37 sports and award 555 colors to 355 Air Force veterans who have demonstrated their skills in national and international participation in 2022 and 2023.
During this, judo player Sarjan Samara Dharmavardhana received the Flight Lt. A Varadarasa Memorial Trophy for Sportsman of the Year 2022. Flight Lt. Priya Abeyweera Gunawardena Trophy was won by Senior Air Force Woman Sajeevani Kure who represented Boxing as the Athlete of the Year 2022.
Senior Airman Madhushantha Jayathilaka won the Flight Lt. A Vardarasa Memorial Trophy for Weightlifter of the Year 2023 and Sergeant Oshathi Ranasinghe won the Flightlifter Priya Abeyveeranand Award for Cricketer of the Year 2023.
The event was attended by the Commander of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the officers of the Commanding Officers.
