No regrets about retiring – Air Marshal Abeywickrama

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

In response to comments made by Opposition politicians and media reports on his retirement from the Air Force Commander's post, Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama said he finds 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,” Air Marshal Abeywickrama told the Sunday Observer.

“I have no regrets about retiring from the Air Force. I served as the Commander for three years and could complete my duties to the best of my ability,” he said.

As reported last week, Air Vice Marshal Kolitha Gunathilake is to be appointed Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) from March 1. Air Vice Marshal Gunathilake is the current Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Air Marshal Abeywickrama said, “I'm honoured and grateful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa for appointing me as the Commander of the Air Force and giving me a chance to serve the country.

“I was trained in the Air Force and served in positions right up to the Commander and worked to the best of my ability to serve everyone equally. I can leave with great satisfaction regarding my service,” he said.

Air Marshal Harsha Duminda Abeywickrama joined the SLAF with the Intake 8 of Officer Cadets in 1980 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in 1982. When terrorism broke out in the mid-1980s, the SLAF went into battle with the available fleet of aircraft. This was a challenge for the pilots of the SLAF and as a young officer, Abeywickrama was one of the pilots who took part in such combat operations.

He was appointed as the Director Operations in 2006 and thereafter as Director Air Operations. As 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 battle.

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.