Goonetileke graduated from the Air Command and Staff College, Air University in 1994 and attended National Defence College in Pakistan in 2001. He functioned as Director Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations and Chief of Staff, prior to being appointed the Commander of the Air Force on 12 July 2007. On 18 May 2009, he was promoted Air Chief Marshal, becoming the first ever serving officer of the Sri Lanka Air Force to be promoted to four star rank.
Goonetileke graduated from the Air Command and Staff College, Air University in 1994 and attended National Defence College in Pakistan in 2001. He served as Director of Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations and Chief of Staff before being appointed Commander of the Air Force on 12 July 2007. On 18 May 2009, he was promoted to Air Chief Marshal, becoming the first serving officer of the Sri Lanka Air Force to be promoted to four-star rank.