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Air Marshal Sumangala Dias assumes duties as Commander of SLAF
View(s):Air Marshal Sumangala Dias assumed duties as the Commander of the Sir Lanka Air Force last week. He was promoted to the three star rank of Air Marshal by President Sirisena prior to his appointment. He is the 17th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Air Marshal Sumangala Dias
Air Marshal Dias was appointed the Chief of Staff of the Air Force in 2016. He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1984 as an Officer Cadet in the General Duties Pilot Branch. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the GDP branch in August 1986.
Air Marshal Dias is a veteran of the Eelam Wars and was appointed Senior Air Coordinator (SAC), where, as the SAC and Air Component Commander for the final stages of Eelam War IV, he was instrumental in synchronising air operations with ground operations of the 57, 58 and 59 divisions of the Sri Lanka Army.
He commanded the No 2 Heavy Transport Squadron, and was appointed as the Commanding Officer of the No 8 Light Transport Squadron at Sri Lanka Air Force Base, Ratmalana. He returned to flying duties and took over as the Commanding Officer of the No 6 Helicopter Squadron at Sri Lanka Air Force Base, Vavuniya in June 2002.
He was also the officer commanding the Higurakgoda Air Force Base. Following the completion of a Staff Course at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, India in 2001, he completed a National Defence Course in Mirpur, Bangladesh. He also completed Junior Command and Staff Course in India, Joint Air Warfare Course at IAF in India, and Aircraft Accident Investigation Course in Pakistan.
Air Marshal Dias has been awarded the Vadamarachchi Operation medal, Purna Bhumi service medal, Desha Putra sammanaya, Rana Sura padakkama, North and East Operations medal, Riviresa Campaign service medal, Uththama Seva padakkama and the Vishishta Seva Vibushanaya medals among others. Air Marshal Dias is a recipient of the Desha Puthra sammanaya, as a result of injuries he sustained due to enemy fire over Silawathurai. Air Marshal D L S Dias is married to Mayuri and has two children, Bimsara and Visaka.