 53 service personnel were killed and 323 were wounded in the first JVP insurrection from 1971 to 1972. Notable fallen members includes;


The first female officers to join the air force were in 1972, to the Volunteer Air Force, today women are recruited to both the regular and volunteer forces as both officers and airwomen to the SLAF Women's Wing.However, there are no female pilots in the air force.Although female officers are not able to join the general duties pilot branch, they can join any other branch, including the SLAF Regiment and the Air Force Police.