Air Chief Marshal Harsha Abeywickrema heads AASL

Air Chief Marshal Harsha Abeywickrema, has being appointed as the Chairman of Airport & Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd.(AASL).

An old boy of Royal College, Colombo he joined the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) in 1980. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in 1982 and participated in combat operations in the separatist conflict. He has a notable record in active combat and was appointed Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force in 2011 and later was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal.

Under his leadership, the SLAF engaged in nation-building projects and launched revenue-generating initiatives including revitalising the Heli-Tours operation and introducing SLAF commercial ventures such as Marble Beach Resort, 2 Golf Links, Eagles Lagoon View, and Eagles’ Lakeside Banquet and Convention Hall.

He oversaw significant developments such as the opening of SLAF Station Iranamadu’s runway and improved management structures within SLAF.

During this time, the SLAF civil engineering unit achieved self-sufficiency in civil engineering construction projects, while commercial ventures such as the Eagles’ Golf Links, China Bay and the Eagles Heritage Golf Club, Anuradhapura, Koggala and the Commanders Cup Open Golf Tournament.

He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, USA, and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, UK. He holds a MA in International Studies from King’s College, University of London, and a MSc in Management from Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka. He is an A2-graded Qualified Flying Instructor and holds a Commercial Pilot’s Licence with an Instrument Rating. He was appointed Chairman of Bank of Ceylon (BoC) in 2014/2015 and was a Director on the Board of Sunshine Holdings from 2015 to 2023. He was also a Director of Brandix Lanka Limited from 2015 to 2022.

He is currently a Board Director of Watawala Plantations and Capitol Towers of Sanken Group.