Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, VWV, RWP and two bars, RSP and bar, USP (born 26 November 1966) is former senior Sri Lanka Air Force officer and attack helicopter pilot.

Thuyacontha was born in Colombo and was educated at Thurstan College, where he gained colours for rugby in 1986.

Logging over 7000 flying hours as an Operations/ VIP and Attack Helicopter Pilot, including combat sorties.

He is a graduate of the PLA National Defense University, having gained a Master of Military Science, and a graduate of the Defence Services Command and Staff College having gained a MSc in Defence Management.

[2] Following his retirement, Gunaratne began openly supporting the National People's Power (NPP) and in 2023 he submitted a violation of fundamental rights petition to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka claiming he had been deprived of his retirement rights due to his political activity.