Air Chief Marshal

Sumangala Dias
Dias as an Air Vice Marshal
Allegiance Sri Lanka
Service/branch Sri Lanka Air Force
Years of service1984 - 2020
RankAir Chief Marshal[1]
UnitNo. 6 Squadron SLAF
Commands held17th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force
Chief of Staff
Base Commander SLAF Katunayake
Base Commander SLAF Hingurakgoda
No. 6 Squadron SLAF
No. 8 Squadron SLAF
No. 2 Squadron SLAF
Battles/warsSri Lankan Civil War
Awards Rana Wickrama Padakkama
Rana Sura Padakkama (x4)
50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal
Desha Putra Sammanaya
North and East Operations Medal
Purna Bhumi Padakkama
Vadamarachchi Operation Medal
Riviresa Campaign Services Medal
Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal
Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal

Air Chief Marshal Dambure Liyanage Sumangala Dias, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP is a retired Sri Lanka Air Force officer and pilot who served as Commander of the Air Force from 29 May 2019 to 2 November 2020.[1][2][3] He retired from his position as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force on 2 November 2020 and was replaced by Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.[4][5]

Education

Educated at Nalanda College, Colombo, he was presented with Nalanda Keerthi Sri award by his alma mater in 2019.[6]

Air force career

Dias joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as part of its 13th Officer Cadet Intake on 13 December 1984.[2][3][7] On completing basic and advanced flight training, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the General Duties Pilot Branch on 15 August 1986.[3] Dias was wounded in action over Silavaturai during the opening stages of Eelam War II in 1990, as part of the SLAF's support operations of besieged Sri Lanka Army positions.[8] After completing a Command and Staff Course in India, he was assigned to the No. 6 Squadron operating out of SLAF Vavuniya.

Having been promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader, Dias was appointed Commanding Officer of the No. 2 Heavy Transport Squadron at SLAF Ratmalana on 21 October 1996, and then CO of the No. 8 Light Transport Squadron based there.[9] After completing a Staff Course at the Indian Defence Services Staff College in 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander, and appointed commanding officer of the No. 6 Squadron on 26 June 2002.[2][3][9]

On 1 June 2005, Dias was appointed Base Commander at SLAF Hingurakgoda; in 2008 he was appointed Senior Air Coordinator for the final stages of Eelam War IV, coordinating SLAF operations with the ground operations of the 57-, 58 and 59 divisions of the Sri Lanka Army.[9] He also completed a National Defence Course at the National Defence College Bangladesh.[2][3]

On 5 December 2009, he was appointed Base Commander at SLAF Katunayake, and promoted to the rank of Air Commodore by 2011.[9][10][11] Dias then saw a rapid rise through the ranks, starting in 2013 when he was appointed Deputy Director of Air Operations, to Deputy Director Logistics on 28 February 2014, to Director Logistics on 1 July 2014 and then to Acting Director of Air Operations on 15 June 2016.[9] He was finally appointed Chief of the Air Staff on 1 October 2016, formally taking up duties on 27 October.[2][3][9] He was appointed Commander of the Air Force on 29 May 2019.[2][3] He retired as Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force on 2 November 2020 and was succeeded by Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.[4][5]

Dias has completed a Joint Air Warfare course in India, and is a trained Aircraft Accident Investigator following a course in Pakistan; he has also held the position of Chief Flight Safety Officer within the SLAF.[2][3][9]

Diplomatic career

Following his retirement from the SLAF, he was named as Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Canada, which was later turned down by the Government of Canada. He has since been named Sri Lankan Ambassador to Italy.[12][13][14]


He is currently the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia after being rejected by the Canadian and Sri Lankan governments. [15] This is believed to be due to allegations of war crimes committed in the past but cannot be confirmed and was not stated as a reason [16]

Personal life

Dias is married to Mayuri and has two children Bimsara and Visaka.[9] He is also interested in sport, having held the Chair of SLAF Athletics in 2012, and the Chairmanship of SLAF Cycling.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Air Marshal Sumangala Dias Promoted to the Rank of Air Chief Marshal | Sri Lanka Air Force".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Air Vice Marshall D.L.S. Dias is Air Force Chief of Staff". Dailynews.lk. Daily News Sri Lanka. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "D.L.S Dias appointed as Chief of Staff of SLAF". Adaderana.lk. Ada Derana. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Air Vice Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana - New Air Force Commander". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Sudarshana Pathirana new Air Force Commander". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Nalandians’ Tribute to the Commander of the Air Force
  7. ↑ Nalanda College Alumni (Sri Lanka Air Force)
  8. ↑ Ferdinando, Shamindra (23 July 2013). "War on Terror Revisited: No 4 Helicopter Squadron to the fore". Island.lk. The Island (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Chief of Staff". Airforce.lk. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  10. ↑ "Excellence Award 2011". Airforce.lk. Sri Lanka Air Force. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  11. ↑ Paranamanna, Sarasi (4 September 2011). "Pacific Air Rally 2011: Mastering the Skies". Nation.lk. The Nation (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  12. ↑ Air Marshal Sumangala Dias approved as Sri Lanka’s envoy to Canada
  13. ↑ 9 new envoys with AF Commander picked to head SL Mission in Canada
  14. ↑ Ferdinando, Shamindra. "Diplomatic postings: New station for Air Marshal Dias after Canada rejection". Island. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "Staff of the High Commission – HIGH COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA IN MALAYSIA". Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  16. ↑ Weerasooriya, Sahan. "Dias takes over Kuala Lumpur mission after unjustified Canadian and Italian rejection". Retrieved 28 January 2023.
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