Sumangala Dias
Sumangala Dias | |
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Allegiance | Sri Lanka |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1984 - present |
Rank | Air Marshal |
Unit | No. 6 Squadron SLAF |
Commands | Chief of Staff Base Commander SLAF Katunayake Base Commander SLAF Hingurakgoda No. 6 Squadron SLAF No. 8 Squadron SLAF No. 2 Squadron SLAF |
Battles/wars | Sri Lankan Civil War |
Awards | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Air Marshal Sumangala Dias (also known as Dambure Liyanage Sumangala Dias) RSP, MSc (Def Stud), ndc, psc is a senior Sri Lankan air officer and current Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force[1][2]
Education and military career
Educated at Nalanda College, Colombo, Dias enlisted in the Sri Lanka Air Force as part of its 13th Officer Cadet Intake on 13 December 1984.[1][2][3] On completing basic and advanced flight training, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the General Duties Pilot Branch on 15 August 1986.[2] 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.[4] After completing a Command and Staff Course in India, he was assigned to the No. 6 Squadron operating out of SLAF Vavuniya.
Having being 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.[5] 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.[1][2][5]
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.[5] He also completed a National Defence Course at the National Defence College Bangladesh.[1][2]
On 5 December 2009, he was appointed Base Commander at SLAF Katunayake, and promoted to the rank of Air Commodore by 2011.[5][6][7] 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.[5] He was finally appointed Chief of the Air Staff on 1 October 2016, formally taking up duties on 27 October.[1][2][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.[1][2][5]
Sumangala was presented with Nalanda Keerthi Sri award by his alma mater Nalanda College, Colombo in 2019.[8]
Personal life
Dias is married, and has two children- Bimsara and Visaka- with his wife Mayuri.[5] He is also interested in sport, having held the Chair of SLAF Athletics in 2012, and currently holding the Chairmanship of SLAF Cycling.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "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.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "D.L.S Dias appointed as Chief of Staff of SLAF". Adaderana.lk. Ada Derana. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ Nalanda College Alumni (Sri Lanka Air Force)
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Chief of Staff". Airforce.lk. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ "Excellence Award 2011". Airforce.lk. Sri Lanka Air Force. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ Paranamanna, Sarasi (4 September 2011). "Pacific Air Rally 2011: Mastering the Skies". Nation.lk. The Nation (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ Nalandians’ Tribute to the Commander of the Air Force