Retiring Air Force chief proud to be a part of winning team
By Dhaneshi Yatawara

Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama |
In an interview with the Sunday Observer Air Force Commander Air
Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama said that he is proud to be a part of a
winning team. “As Commander of the SLAF I got the best opportunity to
serve in a bigger capacity,” he said.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: You are leaving the Air Force as its thirteenth Commander
by end of next month ending a career spanning more than three decades.
How do you feel about it?
A: I leave as a very happy person. I have been with Air Force
for more than three decades. This has been my passion. Since childhood
my dream was to become a pilot.
I always did what was best and correct for the country. Looking back
I'm proud to be a part of a winning team like the SLAF.
I can leave my post with such contentment for the simple reason that
I got opportunities to make the Air Force a better organisation.
Being the Commander of the SLAF I got the best opportunity to serve
in a bigger capacity and I'm grateful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and
Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa for appointing me as the Commander
of the Air Force and giving me that opportunity. I'm leaving a better
institute than which I entered.
Q: There were several media reports that were trying to
highlight that your retirement was too early. How would you comment on
this?
A: There is nothing unusual in the decision. These changes are
routine decisions made by the President as the Commander-in-chief. The
next qualified person needs a chance to come to the top position of this
institute. I have no regrets in leaving the Air Force. I served as the
Commander for three years and was able to complete my duties to the best
of my ability. I was trained in the Air Force and I served up to the
commander post and did in the best of my ability to serve everyone
equally. I can leave the post with great satisfaction of my service.
Towards those who write these stories well I have compassion towards
them.
Q: During the Ealam War IV you were a key player working as
Director Operations. How would you recall those tense days?
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Sri Lanka’s first team of
supersonic fighter pilots. (From left): Flying Officer Janaka
Wijetileke, Flt. Lt. Priyantha Gunasinghe, Sqn. Ldr. Harsha
Abeywickrama, Fg. Off. Sudarshana Pathirana and Flying Officer
Sajeewa Hendawitharana in front of fighter jet F7 BS at
Katunayake after a mission in 1993 |
A: Obviously those were highly tense days. When the
humanitarian operation started in the East from Mavil Aru I was
appointed as the Director Operations. My main duty was to motivate Air
Force personnel. It was just after a cease fire and many were in a very
inactive mood as there was less action. So the first thing to do was to
motivate these people. We implement a strategy called the OODA loop -
observe, orient, decide, and act. The concept was developed by military
strategist and USAF Colonel John Boyd. My aim was to shorten the time as
much as possible to complete this cycle and act soon when facing enemy.
Thus, target acquisition process had to face a major change.
The biggest challenge was the demand from the ground troops. During
the East from Trinco to Thoppigala and while liberating the North from
Mannar to Welioya the entire Northern line needed our support. It was a
big challenge supporting all fronts with limited facilities. I kept
direct links with the Ground Commanders at all times and thus action was
fast when needed.
To meet the challenge we needed new equipments and special trainings
and for those we had to seek support of foreign countries. In such
instances Pakistan, Israel and China were mostly there for us. If not
for the support and understanding of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and
Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa we wouldn’t have been able to take
prompt action as well as to keep these diplomatic relations tight at
crucial points.
This was very crucial because we, during the humanitarian operation,
kind of rose to the occasion. Another important issue was Casualty
Evacuation (CASAVAC) operations. This was what kept the moral of the
soldiers high. We kept direct links even with groups like the LRRPs of
the Army who bravely move right in to the enemy area for reccainasance
missions. Combined with our aerial information the LRRP’s ground
information of the enemy territory was invaluable during the
humanitarian operation.
There were many instances where we had to adopt indigenous methods to
defeat the enemy. The LTTE were always trying to make a fear psychosis
though they could not create damage by air power. To destroy this we
came up with a RADAR guided system.
Q: When terrorist threats emerged in the mid 1980s, the SLAF
went into battle with the available fleet. This was a challenge for the
pilots of the SLAF and as a young Officer, you were one of the foremost
Pilots who took flight into such combat operations. Was this experience
as a combat pilot worked as a guide to you? How did that help you to
over come the challenges?
Fact file |
Air Marshal Harsha Duminda Abeywickrama joined the Sri Lanka Air
Force (SLAF) with the 8th Intake of Officer Cadets in 1980 and was
commissioned as a Pilot Officer in 1982. As a young Officer, he was one
of the foremost Pilots who took flight into combat operations when
terrorist threats emerged in the 1980’s.
He was appointed as the Director Operations in year 2006. With the
flying operations under his command as the Director Operations, he
revolutionised the operational doctrine of the Air Force. The most
notable was the establishment of a Battle Management Centre integrating
the UAV, RADAR and other airborne observation platforms providing real
time intelligence resulting in changing the strategy of air attack and
the rapid development of SLAF’s air defence capability. This
revolutionary transformation was the driving force behind the many
decisive and successful air operations during the final stages of the
nearly 30-year long separatist conflict of Sri Lanka.
He was appointed as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force on
February 27, 2011 and was elevated to the rank of Air Marshal.
Air Marshal Abeywickrama is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff
College at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, USA and the
Royal College of Defence Studies, London, UK. He holds a Master of Arts
degree in International Studies from King’s College, University of
London, and a Master of Science degree in Management from Kotelawala
Defence University, Sri Lanka.
He is an A2 graded Qualified Flying Instructor and holds a Commercial
Pilot’s License with an Instrument Rating.
Air Marshal Abeywickrama is a decorated combat pilot. His gallant and
selfless contribution during the separatist conflict has earned him the
prestigious Rana Wickrama Padakkama (Combat Gallantry Medal) twice and
the 'Rana Sura Padakkama (Combat Excellence Medal)'.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the nation he has
been awarded the 'Uttama Seva Padakkama (Meritorious Service Medal) and
the Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya (Distinguished Service Decoration).
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A: Definitely. What I experienced is what made me realise the
strong and weak points in our operational strategies. And I’m humbly
proud to say I am the fighter pilot to become Director operations. I was
also in the decision making committee bringing the F7 jets and I flew a
Kfir for the first time in Israel.
And based on my experience as a fighter pilot while directing
operations, I understood that if we followed the OODA loop in the
traditional military way necessary action would get unnecessarily
delayed. So I had to make a 360 degrees turn in the target acquisition
process. Traditionally pilots are given details of the exact position of
the target and mostly indicating directions, longitudes and latitudes.
It is just the target. But during this humanitarian operation we gave
total description of the target to the pilots and Commanding Officers of
fighter squadrons before they take off for the mission. So the pilots
knew the importance of the target in weakening the enemy, the
challenges.
I kept a direct watch from the office at headquarters. We amalgamated
UAVs and Beechcrafts and I was able to observe the targets by myself
reducing time committed to observation. With this information I was able
to instruct the pilots on the amount of ammunition they had to carry,
which type of ammunition to use. I was able to see the target
simultaneously to the pilots since we installed cameras to the fighter
jets and helicopters. I had direct links with the pilots and I used to
talk to the pilots directly.
And I guess the pilots had to be more careful on their precision on
acquiring the target since I was watching. The pilots flew at very low
altitudes targeting the enemy and this assured precise attacks. I kept
direct communications with Army's ground commanders at all times.
Q: Apart from many novelties you did to the air force tactics
during the fight against terrorism the Air Defence System was quite a
new approach. How did this came in to the scene?
A: Air Defence System was a concept that has been there with
the Air Force. In 2005 we saw that the LTTE had ‘Sling’ aircraft.
Because of the ceasefire we could not do much to eliminate this air
power. Around 2006 with the assistance from India we received the Indra
Radar system and by around 2008 – 2009 we had a complete system suitable
to our requirements. We received a lot of support from the Government to
get necessary equipment without delay.
Q: Sri Lanka Air Force is now equipped with a unique set of
experiences. Why not a step to exchange this wealth of knowledge with
other Air Forces of the world?
A: It is so unfortunate of the West not understanding the
importance of the experience of the Sri Lankan military forces. Theory
in the world is that an Air Force can only play a supportive role but
we, the SLAF, proved that even with limited resources an air force can
play a main role to eliminate terrorism. The resistance coming mainly
from the western world is what blocking us as military forces in
exchanging experience. We have started writing the episodes of the final
humanitarian operation. This we have named as ‘ aerial tribute’. It is
actually now in print and in another month or two we are able to release
it to the public. By reading this any person, military or not, can
understand the modus operandi of the Sri Lanka Air Force. Though nothing
much said aloud we are exchanging our experiences with other air forces
in small scale.
Q: Ending the humanitarian operation Sri Lanka Air Force
encountered a 360 degrees transformation. Was this easy? How flexible
were the Air Force personnel towards this change?
A: Well I must say that Air Force personnel have been very
flexible and gave their total commitment and dedication to these new
ventures. After I took over I saw there were many skilled people in the
Air Force. They needed work that would suit their skill. And on the
other hand we were focusing on broadening welfare for Air Force
personnel. So rather depending on Government funds we decided to invest
from our welfare fund. Some of these are not new to the Air Force. For
example if we take the Helitours – it was in 1972 that the then
Government has approved Sri Lanka Air Force to operate something
similar. With the new business ventures we got the chance to provide a
service to Air Force personnel at welfare rates and earn a profit by
giving it to the general public at normal rates. With this Air Force
personnel also get a vocational training and when they leave the Air
Force they with an additional qualification.
Q: The main responsibility of the Air Force will be to
safeguard the country. A major change would have affected your core
responsibilities. How did you manage this situation?
A: We have not touched the core of the Air Force used in
defending the country. Even with the commercial flights the pilots get a
constant training automatically.
They are now with License for Commercial flying and by the time they
are leaving the Air Force they will be armed with much higher
qualification as well.
Q: How about sustainability of these enterprises?
A: These ventures have independent structures to follow. Any
commander only has to monitor. The systems are independent and
transparent.
Q: what do you plan to do after retirement?
A: My life has been a very busy and active one since I joined
the Air Force. Now I would prefer a peaceful, less stressful life with
my family.
I’m fortunate to have a understanding and supportive wife and a son
who succeeds in his endeavours and brings happiness to me.
I have deeply studied Buddhist philosophy and I live by it. Buddhist
philosophy came in to my life when I took over as the base commander of
Anuradhapura Air Force Base. It brought so much of peace to the tense
lives we lived. And since then it had been my guideline. So my life
after retirement would be a peaceful one.
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