Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

A number of ex-SriLankan pilots, who were kicking their heels in Colombo for about one year hoping to rejoin the national carrier, are now being absorbed by the country s fledgling budget carrier Mihin Lanka.

These pilots have been complaining that SriLankan, which utilises a large number of foreign pilots, was ignoring them due to petty jealousies, despite President Rajapaksa inviting Lankan expatriates to return to serve the motherland and Lankan aviation laws specifically requiring the national carrier to give first preference to Lankans in recruitment of staff.

Many of these pilots, who were flying for mainly Indian carriers, lost their jobs due to the global economic crisis which directly affected the aviation industry worldwide.

Aviation sources said two of the ex-SriLankan pilots now absorbed by Mihin, Capt. Chamila Dhanapala and Capt. Errol Wijenayake have already been sent to Bangalore for refresher training to renew their licences.

Sources said Mihin has also recruited Capt. Tony Wahab. A third Lankan pilot Capt. Pujitha Jayakody, now serving Jet Airways of India, too is scheduled to join the budget carrier shortly.

Meanwhile, another senior pilot and a war veteran Capt. Lalith Wijetunga has now decided to join Air Asia of Malaysia after waiting in vain for one year in Colombo to rejoin SriLankan. Air Asia, now operating about 100 aircraft, is one of the cheapest to fly.

Post-war, the Sri Lanka military is adapting for tourism. The Navy and Air Force have been especially active in re purposing ships, planes and helicopters for civilian use. Two specific civilian services are the Jetliner cruise ship berthed in the Colombo Harbour and the Helitours air transport service. These two services are now in almost daily operation.

Navy tourism

During the war the Navy Jetliner was a top target for the LTTE. Now it is a top destination for blue-chip companies and organisations. This multiple-storied ship is docked in the Colombo Harbour, near the Pettah clock tower entrance. Civilians can enter this formerly high security area to book a tour and take the Jetliner out for a sunset cruise, with 350 of their closest friends. But it wasn t always like this.

During the war this Jetliner was a lifeline to the north. It was capable of ferrying over 3,000 troops from Trincomalee to Jaffna and large quantities of supplies. As such, it was also a target for the LTTE. It saw action shots came near the Jetliner but never reached its bow. During some missions the ship was escorted by gunships and helicopters. It was also equipped with its own complement of guns, hand held missiles and about 150 soldiers to operate its defenses. Today, however, Captain Nilantha Heenatigala is more likely to inquire about what equipment you d like at the bar.

This service started in January. We expected about four events a month. This month alone we have 11, he said.

One such event was held in March. It was well attended but compromised by poor food and beverage service, services meant to be provided by the Navy. Bookings aside, the service does still have some hiccups when it comes to delivering five star service to match the facilities.

And the Jetliner is an excellent ship. It is large and has ample room for hundreds of guests in the lounge, Club Room, dining hall or on two decks. These have facilities for sound and light, though at times additional generators may be required. The facilities are spotless and well maintained and the ship itself is a recent lease from an Indonesian company. It can cruise at a top speed of 28 knots (over 30 MPH), burning commensurate amounts of fuel. Being a military ship, it has all the required clearances to sail in our highly secured waters.

The most idyllic package is perhaps the sunset cruise, comprising 1.5 hours at sea and 3.5 hours at harbour. This costs over Rs. 400,000. That price can be divided among 125, 175 or 350 people, costing Rs. 2,300 per head for 175 guests, for example. The cheapest package is about Rs. 200,000, comprising five hours in the harbour, without sailing anywhere. The ship is also available on longer charters. You can sail up to Galle for around Rs.2.5 million, for example. The service is by no means an outing for the family, but it is affordable for companies or large groups.

Of which there are many. In just a few hours aboard the boat there were over four groups of local and international companies inquiring about the ship s services and being happily obliged with tours. Captain Heenatigala, however, was clear that this remained a project in the ultimate service of the military and nation.
This vessel has to run, he said. If the government wants to transport a battalion at any time, we can do that. This ship is available as a contingency, for any disaster, to evacuate people in cases like a tsunami, for example. It is also able to assist anywhere in South Asia.

In this way the government is making some of its military/emergency facilities somewhat self-sufficient. Is it breaking even? We re not losing money, not making money, the Captain said. So the ship continues to run, for security and for fun.

Air Force Tourism

Another type of military tourism is by air. The Air Force maintains a variety of aircraft and highly trained personnel. Recently these formerly military flights have been opened to the public and anyone can book a seat. Simply visit the Air Force office across from the Cinnamon Lakeside and the capable staff will fill out a ticket in about half an hour. In the morning you can leave from Ratmalana Airport and be in Trincomalee after 40 minutes in the air.

The service is not seamless one test flight was an hour late for example but, most importantly, the flights are safe and regular. According to Group Captain Janaka Nanayakkara, the Helitours service has been operating for almost a year. It does flights to China Bay airport in Trincomalee for anyone and flights to Palaly in Jaffna for citizens or foreigners with Ministry of Defence clearance.

The planes themselves are AN-32 turboprops, comfortable but still obviously military aircraft. They have only four windows and a back bay that opens. On a test flight there were only six tourists and all were seated near a window, which is worthwhile. The experience is remarkable as the plane flies at a constant viewing altitude.

On the test flight check-in time was 6:30 am and the flight arrived at 9:50, about an hour late. This is still incredibly convenient. At Rs. 4,100 for a one-way ticket, it is also affordable, especially for those whose time is money. One-way to Jaffna is Rs. 9,550. A round-trip to either destination is double, with flights leaving Colombo at 8 AM and returning in the afternoon.

Helitours, like the Jetliner, remains ultimately in service of the military. On each flight there are Air Force and military personnel traveling alongside tourists and business people. All involved are extremely courteous and professional and it is a slightly odd but pleasant experience. There are two professional checks, but much less obtrusive than a regular airport.

Travelling to the old Colombo Airport is actually like stepping back in time to a more casual and personal age of air travel. It is quiet, uncrowded and one walks across the runway to the plane. Delays aside, the Helitours service is a novel, fast and ultimately breathtaking way to go.

In this and many ways the armed forces are adapting to peace, serving civilians and maintaining themselves. Available services include the ship and plane charters as well as canal boat rides in Colombo, holiday homes, etc. There are hiccups, especially in terms of adapting to regular customers, but both the cruise ship and flight service are entirely operational. The facilities are pleasant and safe and the people, while not necessarily trained in hospitality, are unfailingly hospitable.

This is, in many ways, true to the character of the Sri Lankan armed forces. War was certainly not pretty, but Sri Lanka has emerged from this decades long conflict with an extremely capable military. This military remains ready for war, but they are also moving into more leisurely pursuits. There are certainly very few armed forces in the world that let anyone ride their ships or planes, but it is an experiment the Sri Lankan military has begun. For civilians, it may be worth a try.

UPFA Kurunegala district candidate and Deputy Health Minister Jayaratna Herath carried out election campaigning today by air using an air force Bell-212 helicopter to distribute leaflets, his office told Daily Mirror online.

The candidate had hired the helicopter for just over two hours and released propaganda leaflets from the air over his electorate. It costs US Dollars 2150/= per hour to hire the Bell 212 helicopter.

US $ 2150 X 2 = 4300 x 115 = Rs.494500

Sri Lanka to provide 10,000 blue berets -

Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya yesterday said the Army was taking measures to send 10,000 officers and other ranks annually to the UN Peace Keeping mission.

Stating that he was instructed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to increase the number of the present members of army personnel sent annually to join the UN Peace Keeping Forces from 1,900 to 10,000, Commander Jayasuriya said almost all initial steps have been taken to implement the decision.

He made these remarks at a discussion held at the command divisions of Kilinochchi Security Forces Headquarters. He visited the divisions at Mankulam Task Force-3, Thunukkai 65th division, Pooneryn 66th Division and Kilinochchi 57 and 58 divisions.

Stating that this was a great opportunity for Army personnel as well as for the Inland Revenue, he said so far 950 personnel were sent every six months and it will be increased to 5,000.

One of the last surviving Sri Lankan World War II veterans who served in the Middle East passed away recently at the Sri Lanka Ex-servicemen s Association Veterans Home in Bolagala, Katana, at the age of 92. Staff Sergeant-Major Percy G.B. Perera of the British Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) was the only non-European soldier to be appointed Confidential Stenographer at British Advanced Headquarters in the Sudan and Eritrea during the campaign against Italian Forces in North-East Africa in 1941.

It was the beginning of the end of Fascist Dictator Benito s Mussolin s dreams of a new a Roman Empire.

At the time the British needed men for garrison and administrative duties and logistical operations in the occupied war zones. Many young Sri Lankans responded to large advertisements in the local press calling for recruits to join the British Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). As the terms and conditions looked rosy, many lads signed up for duty curtailing their studies and in some cases resigning from their jobs. Among the latter was Percy Perera, who was then a stenographer at the Central YMCA Colombo Fort.

The first batch of 88 Sri Lankan RASC volunteers set sail from Colombo on May 6, 1941 at 0900 hours. Their ship, the 46000 ton-HMS Aquitania also carried 6000 Australian and 1000 New Zealand troops including 1000 Maoris.

The Aquitania was part of a convoy that comprised four other Middle-East bound troop ships, escorted by the British naval vessels - HMS Canberra and HMS Leander. The Royal Air Force provided round-the-clock air cover throughout the voyage. During the voyage the escort vessels engaged an enemy surface raider which was sent to the bottom. (The second batch of volunteers included R.B.M. Sumanadasa who later became Lake House Katunayake Correspondent)

On May 16 at the height of Axis (German and Italian) aerial bombardment the first Sri Lankan RASC contingent landed in Egypt's Port Suez from where they were taken by army trucks to their camp at Genefa on the bed of Bitter Lakes. The German Luftwaffe (Air Force) dominated the skies in the early days of the war. Soon the drone of swastika-marked Stukas and Messerschmitts became a familiar sound to the Sri Lankan soldiers. Although the RASC was basically a non-combat unit the men were given intensive combat training including assault courses and gasmasks drill at the Genefa Camp.

A week after the Italian surrender in East Africa, the Sri Lankan soldiers found themselves posted to all parts of the sun-baked African zone. Several of them including Percy Perera, Siriwardena, Jacob Rasanayagam and Rasiah were sent to Eritrea, North of former Italian-held Ethiopia - then known as Abyssinia (Eritrea became an Italian colony in 1890). The place was the scene of one of World War II s bloodiest battles that left 500 British and allied troops killed and 3000 wounded. The Italians lost five times that number. After 12 days of fierce fighting the British captured the heights of Keren, as formidable a natural fortress as man has ever been called to conquer. The jagged peaks and dizzy heights soar 1300 metres above sea level.

At the time Percy then a corporal - was the only soldier in Eritrea who held the London Chamber of Commerce Certificate for stenography. This gave him the rare and unexpected opportunity of becoming confidential stenographer to Brigadier Cyrus Greenslade, Commander of the British Advanced Headquarters in Asmara, Eritrea This gave him the privilege of having access to highly sensitive military information at Advanced HQ. No one outside AHQ even commissioned officers could meet Greenslade without informing Percy and none of them could enter the room. They had to speak from outside. Those were the Brigadier s orders for Percy was handling highly confidential documents and intelligence reports. He was already promoted from Corporal to Sergeant.

One of the secrets known only to the top brass and Percy at AHQ was that a British officer disguised as an Abyssinian was moving above native tribes (like the famed Lawrence of Arabia alias T.E. Lawrence in World War I) organizing a Fifth Column against the Italians. This British officer was Brigadier O. Wingate who later died in air crash in Burma.

Around this time Percy came into contact with Colonel Hugh Boustead, British Commander of the Sudan Defence Force (Camel Corps). He was connected to Boustead Brothers who operated tramways in Colombo. Percy helped the colonel to prepare his war diaries to be sent to the War Office in London

Camel routes were then being opened to support anti-Italian native tribes with arms, money and material. In one operation over12, 000 camels had been killed. It was a strange war camels, mules and horses were in the field with motorized infantry, armoured cars and tanks.