Sumangala Dias

Educated at Nalanda College, Colombo, Dias enlisted in the Sri Lanka Air Force as part of its 13th Officer Cadet Intake on 13 December 1984.[2][3][8] On completing basic and advanced flight training, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the General Duties Pilot Branch on 15 August 1986.[3] Dias was wounded in action over Silavaturai during the opening stages of Eelam War II in 1990, as part of the SLAF's support operations of besieged Sri Lanka Army positions.[9] After completing a Command and Staff Course in India, he was assigned to the No. 6 Squadron operating out of SLAF Vavuniya.

Having being promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader, Dias was appointed Commanding Officer of the No. 2 Heavy Transport Squadron at SLAF Ratmalana on 21 October 1996, and then CO of the No. 8 Light Transport Squadron based there.[10] After completing a Staff Course at the Indian Defence Services Staff College in 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander, and appointed commanding officer of the No. 6 Squadron on 26 June 2002.[2][3][10]

On 1 June 2005, Dias was appointed Base Commander at SLAF Hingurakgoda; in 2008 he was appointed Senior Air Coordinator for the final stages of Eelam War IV, coordinating SLAF operations with the ground operations of the 57-, 58 and 59 divisions of the Sri Lanka Army.[10] He also completed a National Defence Course at the National Defence College Bangladesh.[2][3]

On 5 December 2009, he was appointed Base Commander at SLAF Katunayake, and promoted to the rank of Air Commodore by 2011.[10][11][12] Dias then saw a rapid rise through the ranks, starting in 2013 when he was appointed Deputy Director of Air Operations, to Deputy Director Logistics on 28 February 2014, to Director Logistics on 1 July 2014 and then to Acting Director of Air Operations on 15 June 2016.[10] He was finally appointed Chief of the Air Staff on 1 October 2016, formally taking up duties on 27 October.[2][3][10]

Dias has completed a Joint Air Warfare course in India, and is a trained Aircraft Accident Investigator following a course in Pakistan; he has also held the position of Chief Flight Safety Officer within the SLAF.[2][3][10]

Sumangala was presented with Nalanda Keerthi Sri award by his alma mater Nalanda College, Colombo in 2019.[13]

Dias is married to Mayuri and has two children Bimsara and Visaka.[10] He is also interested in sport, having held the Chair of SLAF Athletics in 2012, and the Chairmanship of SLAF Cycling.[3]

• Air Marshal Sumangala Dias promoted to the four star rank of Air Chief Marshal