Sumangala Dias

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Air Chief Marshal Dambure Liyanage Sumangala Dias is a retired Sri Lanka Air Force officer who served as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force from May 29, 2019, to November 2, 2020. He retired from the post and was succeeded by Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.

Dias studied at Nalanda College, Colombo, and in 2019 received the Nalanda Keerthi Sri award from his alma mater. He joined the SLAF on December 13, 1984, as part of the 13th Officer Cadet Intake and became a Pilot Officer on August 15, 1986. He was wounded in 1990 during Eelam War II while supporting Sri Lanka Army positions.

After a Command and Staff Course in India, he served with No. 6 Squadron in Vavuniya. He rose through the ranks, becoming Commanding Officer of No. 2 Heavy Transport Squadron at Ratmalana in 1996, then commanding No. 8 Light Transport Squadron. He attended the Indian Defence Services Staff College in 2001, was promoted to Wing Commander, and commanded No. 6 Squadron again in 2002. He served as Base Commander at Hingurakgoda in 2005 and, in 2008, coordinated SLAF air operations during the final stages of Eelam War IV.

Dias later held senior positions including Base Commander Katunayake in 2009, Deputy Director of Air Operations in 2013, Deputy Director Logistics in 2014, Director Logistics in 2014, and Acting Director of Air Operations in 2016. He became Chief of the Air Staff on October 1, 2016, taking up the duties on October 27, 2016, and was appointed Commander of the Air Force in 2019.

He undertook further training, including a Joint Air Warfare course in India and an Aircraft Accident Investigator course in Pakistan, and served as Chief Flight Safety Officer. After retiring, there were reports of appointing him as Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Canada, which Canada did not approve; he was later named Ambassador to Italy and is currently Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia.

Dias is married to Mayuri and has two children, Bimsara and Visaka. He has a strong interest in sports and has chaired SLAF Athletics (2012) and SLAF Cycling.