SLAF mindful of human casualties - Outgoing CDS Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke

By Shanika Sriyananda

As a small boy he had only one dream - to become a pilot like his father. When he was an experienced helicopter pilot, he had a dream - to take more enemy targets. The day he took over as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) like his father, he had one dream - to end LTTE terrorism.

He accomplished all. Three days from today, he will shed his uniforms, which he wore for over 36-years, as a happy man who accomplished all tasks given.

“I am privileged to be in the SLAF to end terrorism”, Sri Lanka’s top most military officer Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke said.

In a candid interview with the Sunday Observer Air Chief Marshal Goonetileke recalled his military days, challenges he faced in deciding on correct enemy targets and his future as an ordinary civilian, who plans to mingle with his old school friends and read the Bible more.

Explaining about the air targets of the SLAF during the Eelam IV war he said, “We abandoned over 150 targets which we could have inflicted massive destruction to the LTTE as they were close to the civilian habitation. From the inception, the SLAF was mindful of human casualties”.

Appreciating the strong leadership given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to contribute the SLAF’s might in vanquishing the LTTE, CDS said the President gave the three commanders the freedom to finish the war while he was dealing with many other problems.

“I am fortunate to serve under such a strong leader and the Defence Secretary who played a very vital role was the conduit between the President and us”, he said, adding that he would say ‘yes’ to any task given by the President after August 1 as the ‘retired CDS’.

Following are the excerpts of the interview:

Question: Can you recall the day that you were called to take over as Air Force Chief?

Answer: Yes, It was a very important day in my life. Since my father was also there it gave me a good feeling as I could follow his footsteps to be come the number one of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It was also the most crucial time in the country’s history as we were about to commence the humanitarian operation to end terrorism. It was the most important and most crucial day in my life. I believe that I was privileged to be with the Air Force in that historical period of Sri Lanka.

Q: At that crucial period, what were the main challenges you faced as the Commander of SLAF?

A: When I was the Director Operations and Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera while doing our UAV operations in 2005, we saw how the LTTE runway was coming up and we were concerned about it. We also saw their hangars and an aircraft which were heavily camouflaged. But we were able to detect their air base. Then we brought this to the notice of the government. The government then consulted the Indian Government, which helped us establish the Air Defence System. Not only India, but Pakistan and China also helped us in military matters.

Though we got radars, other equipment and the Air Defence System, our pilots were not ready for air to air combat as they were not trained yet. It was one major challenge that we overcame by training them. India and Pakistan offered us many training programs to train our security forces personnel. Another challenge was the LTTE aircraft, which was slow moving, became a very peculiar threat to the Air Force as it was difficult to detect with our fast moving jets. It became a rather difficult task to do, but finally we managed to shoot them down.

Q: How do you see the support of the President and the Secretary, Defence to finish the task given to you?

A: I must very strongly emphasise that I was very fortunate to serve under President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is a very strong leader. He had decided that we must finish terrorism to start development. He gave us - the three commanders - the freedom to finish the war while he was dealing with many other problems. He took those responsibilities upon himself and gave us responsibilities to fight the war. There was no interference as his order - finish the terrorism - was very clear.

The Defence Secretary played a very vital role and he was the conduit between the President and us. The orders came very quickly and the government provided us with everything that was required. The SLAF was given all the facilities to train our pilots and provided with the required aircrafts to continue fighting. Defence Secretary used to ask us: “What else do you want?” His commitment was amazing and it was his recommendation to the President to recruit more to the forces as with limited man power the gov ernment couldn’t fight a war. Then we started a massive recruitment process and that initiative helped us fight with the enemy not only from one front, but in many fronts.

All credit should go to the Defence Secretary. Finally, the Sri Lanka Air Force became a big force and maintaining such a big force was also a huge task at that time. But, both the President and the Defence Secretary had the courage to go that extra mile to end terrorism. We are fortunate to have this leadership, which gave a very clear vision of what has to be done..

Q: In some instances SLAF was accused of harming civilians while taking air targets. As the former SLAF Chief how do you respond to this accusation?

A: Except in one occasion, the SLAF was not accused of harming civilians. It was the Sencholai that the LTTE accused the SLAF, but subsequently it was proved that it was a LTTE camp. We were very careful when selecting our targets. We did our UAV reconnaissance plus ground intelligence before we took our targets. We took our targets when we were 100 percent confident about those were only the LTTE targets and not going to harm any civilian. We abandoned over 150 targets which we could inflict massive destruction to the LTTE, as they were close to the civilian habitation. From the inception, the SLAF was mindful of human casualties.

“You have to be 100 percent confident that you are not harming any civilian in your military operations”, it was the main order from the President for us. Therefore, the SLAF heeded that order more than 100 percent.

Q: Are you satisfied with your accomplishments in your military career?

A: Yes. As the former SLAF Commander I am extremely satisfied with the performances as we have won the war. It is a very rare privilege to have been a Commander when the war was won. A very few people will get that opportunity. As soon as I joined the SLAF, terrorism started, and it came to an end when I was the Commander. I started fighting a war and winning during the tenure is a very rare opportunity for a commander.

As the SLAF Commander, I always ensured the correct people get into the correct positions and they are trained properly. All squadrons were staffed with well experienced officers who had experience in the war. Finally the SLAF had performed very well in its task.

As the CDS I played a different role, where I had to coordinate military things. I am satisfied with what I did as the second CDS of this country.

Q: How do you recall being grown up with ‘a Commander’ at home?

A: It was an interesting period and my love for flying grew because of this environment. I used to open the wardrobe and touch my father’s overalls and flying helmets.

As a small boy, I used to wear them and see myself in front of the mirror. Becoming a pilot, was my one and only dream. I always wanted to fly as I grew with an environment with uniform men who flew planes and working under aircraft.

I was privileged to be taken into a cockpit of an aircraft even in my very small days. It was fun and the interest was built slowly. When I was young, it influenced me to apply as a pilot and luckily my father gave the final nod to go ahead.

Q: What was the most important lesson learnt from him?

A: I saw lots of authority and how he was commanding people. He was a kind man and especially when he wanted to be kind he was kind but he was tough when he had to be. These are the things that caught my attention. I think those traits were passed on to me and it helped me a lot as I was brought up in that military environment.

Q: Do you think you are tough like your father?

A: I don’t know. My father once told me, ‘you are the softer side of my version’. But, I get my work done. Leadership means getting your subordinates to do what you want them to do. I motivate them and give all the credit for what they do. Without them you cannot do anything that you want to do. All the squadron commanders were given due credit due to them for what they do. That motivated them and they will motivate those under their command and it go down the line. For me, it’s always a team effort.

Q: What is the most challenging decision taken in your military life?

A: There were quite lot of challenging decisions that we had to take in the SLAF. It is difficult to pin point a single challenge as such. During the entire career as military officers, we face challenges. But, some decisions, if you don’t take, the result would have being completely different. The decisions such as deciding air targets to be taken and what not to take, are very challenging. As a former commander, during my entire tenure I faced lots of challenging tasks.

Q: Within a few days you are to shed your uniform which you wore for over three decades. How do you prepare yourself into a new life?

A: Yes, these past few days I have been looking back and felt 36-years in the military is a long time. I am so used to this uniform, but everybody has to leave these uniforms one day. I am going home as a very happy man as I have accomplished the task given to me.

As I explained, I was able to contribute to end a decades-long terrorism during my tenure. With a task accomplished, the retirement into civilian life is easy and I go out with a happy frame of mind. I joined the service as there was a task to do and now I move back to civilian life after completing that task.

When I think back, getting back to civilian life, might be a novel experience for me, who was in a military environment since I was one and half-months old. But, still I will be in the military environment because of my son, Rehan, who is now a flying officer in the SLAF. It will be the same environment in which my father and I were in before.

It is quite a nice thing to experience that one is leaving and another is continuing.

In my leisure time, I like to listen to music of the 1970s - Sinhala and English songs. I love to read the Bible a lot. I hope there is a lot of work for me in my retirement.

I also hope it will be interesting as I can get in touch with my school friends, who are waiting for me to shed this uniform.

Q: Being an experienced pilot, what is your advice to the youth who are aspiring to join as pilots?

A: Yes. I can talk about those who want to join the Forces. Military is an ideal place for young people to learn about leadership and disciplined life. This is an opportunity that they will not get from anywhere else.

The security forces is all about discipline and leadership. Joining the security forces is the best opportunity for them to become good leaders.

In their formative years as young pilots or servicemen, they need to serve under good leaders and learn because if they are unable to serve under any leader, my personnel belief is that they can’t be good leaders.

They will get leaders with different characteristics and as youth they need to serve under all of them to gain experience. They will get very tough leaders, good and kind leaders and also the leaders who get the work done out of their knowledge.

My advice is they must go through all these people to become a good leader one day and to know what life is all about.

Then one day you will get the opportunity to lead people according to your capacity. One day, those who are in the military can become a great military leader. Another aspect is, they should train themselves to wait until the right time comes. Leaders will not be born overnight and it will take time to mould a person to become a leader. They should gain experience and should come up the ladder step by step until fit to be a leader.

I think everybody can be a leader under each one’s capacity. But you can’t say that you can’t serve under a particular leader because of his characteristic and want to become independent. Then you create problems and those can’t become leaders because they are imbalanced in leadership. First you need to learn your stuff and then become a good leader.

For all the pilots who want to become good pilots, my advice is for them is as they are young, to learn everything from their seniors. When they become seniors, they must be examples to their juniors.

I also tell students when I get the opportunity to address them, to have a balance in studies and sports because in studies you learn things and in the sports ground you learn practical things about leadership such as how to lose, accept defeat gracefully, accept victory in a graceful manner, how to behave, plan your strategies and how to beat others, how to be a team member and not work alone. These are traits of leadership qualities you practice in the sports ground.

Sports and studies are all required for a man to become a responsible citizen. Studies alone will not do and sports alone will not do. A person needs both to be a good human being.

Q: You said you love to read the bible. To what extent do you believe that religion helps mould a good person?

A: Yes, religion plays a very strong role in man’s life. It can teach a man good qualities and give strength to look at life in a fair manner. For me, reading the Bible and God’s words help in day-to-day matters.

Q: Will you get a DPL post or continue to be serving the government in a different capacity?

A: I don’t know what is in store for me and I personally don’t like to move out of the country. But, I will see. However, if the President offers another task, I will definitely fulfil that also, as I am always ready to do what he wants me to do.