A new Commander’s mission

Enhancing maritime surveillance on the radar of new SLAF Chief :

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

Career stats

Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinhala RWP, RSP, USP, M Phil (Def & Strat Stu), MSc (Def Stu) in Mgt, MIM (SL), ndc, psc Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinhala joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet on February 12,1981 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the General Duties Pilot Branch on April 8, 1983. He holds general degrees and several Post graduate degrees from prestigious international Universities of India, USA and China. Air Marshal Bulathsinhala is the founding Commanding Officer of the No. 6 Helicopter Squadron. He is a VVIP rated pilot with over 4,500 flying hours and has had the honour of flying four Presidents of Sri Lanka during his tenure at the No. 4 VVIP Squadron. He was appointed to the Air Force Board of Management as the Director Operations in year 2011 and thereafter as the Director, Air Operations in year 2012. He was subsequently appointed as the Chief of Staff in year 2014. He was elevated to the rank of Air Marshal on June 1, 2015 and was appointed as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force on June 16, 2015.

The change of command in the Sri Lanka Air Force promises a healthy environment for the institute. The fifteenth commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinhala, who spoke to the media, shortly after his appointment said, the Air Force will be prioritising every action in maintaining their core competencies.

The need to elevate the proficiency level of Information Knowledge and English is a must, said the new Air Force Chief, explaining that it is crucial to advance the technical knowhow of the Air Force personnel. “We need to keep up with the pace the technical world moves, to maintain our professional competency,” he said.

“Any Air Force do not have a large human resource. At the moment we have the strength necessary for the country’s need. We will be moving on with the country’s security policy,” he said.

Threats

Being an island, Sri Lanka can face possible threats from illegal trades, invading fishing grounds and many such issues including being a transition hub for the black market. Therefore protecting the Sri Lankan waters Exclusive Economic Zone becomes crucial in such a background and the Air Force has a major role to play.

“Policing the EEZ and the flight information region are two domains that we need to build,” he pointed out.

Yet, at present, Sri Lanka has limited capabilities in maritime surveillance and security and the Air Force Chief ensured he will continue to emphasise this fact with his superiors and convince them of the need to enhance maritime surveillance competencies of the country.

Considering collaboration with friendly countries would be another advantageous step in achieving the target, he said.

To expand its capabilities does the SLAF need to raise the number of aircraft and equipment? “No, we do not intend to buy any more aircrafts at the moment,” the commander ensured.

Violations

The allegations on violations of human rights during the war against terrorism that ended in 2009 continue to haunt and presumably affect the military coordination between foreign countries and Sri Lanka. Answering a question as to whether there will be an adverse effect on Sri Lanka Air Force, the commander was of the view that these allegations will not hamper the decisions of the friendly militaries.

“Their evaluation is solely based on our performances and with the responses we had so far from militaries of foreign countries we do not see a negative picture,” he said.

For the first time in the history of the SLAF two contingents of 110 Air Force personnel were sent to UN peace keeping missions in South Sudan and Central Africa. The two contingents received many appreciations from their superiors for their exemplary conduct, according to the Air Force chief.

“It is another area that has opened up for the Air Force personnel to advance themselves in their professionalism,” he said. At the moment each of the two contingents are with three MI 17 helicopters.

Complaining

After 2009, the Sri Lanka Air Force moved in to the highly competitive civil aviation field and with the rise of the trade, many private airlines started complaining that Air Force wing in civil aviation - the Heli tours - was constraining the growth of their businesses.

Responding to the queries, the Air Force chief emphasised that they entered the field not to ‘kill’ the industry.

“We came in to the civil aviation industry as the Government wanted to break the monopoly running in the trade inconveniencing the public,” he said.“Soon after the war there was only a single air bridge that was from Ratmalana to Jaffna.

The Government wanted to expand the facilities and the request came to us. Our effort is to contribute to the growth of the civil aviation industry,” he said, adding, “We are facing similar challenges in the fields, like any other operator.”

Commenting on the domestic airstrips Air Marshal Bulathsinhala said that the numbers are sufficient to cater to the current domestic air travel demand.

“We only need to repair and maintain the locations to cater to the needs of the passengers and the operators.”

In response to allegations raised over his appointment being highly politically influenced, the commander briefly but firmly said that his responsibility will be to deliver the duties of a commander to the best of his ability.

“I respect the decision of my superiors. I will serve the country and my Air Force with utmost ingenuity,” he emphasised.