[2] Pathirana was among a batch of pilots who were sent to the Pakistan Air Force Academy in Risalpur for advanced flying training, where he won the award for the "Best Allied Flight Cadet" from the PAF.

[3][2] Initially commencing his career in the Sri Lanka Air Force as a Reconnaissance pilot, he subsequently transited to Light Transport flying prior to moving into fast jets as a member of the first batch of pilots to fly supersonic aircraft in Sri Lanka.

In addition, he holds a Commercial Pilots License and is a Flying Examiner for the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.

In 1995, he became the first Sri Lankan pilot to complete the All-Purpose Qualified Flying Instructors Course in India.

Air Chief Marshal Pathiran was designated as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in October 2023.