Information released by independent investigative journalist Keerthy Ratnayake regarding the Mi-17 helicopters of the Sri Lankan Air Force has attracted attention.
He said that Sri Lanka has a total of 22 Mi-17 helicopters, of which 19 are found to be in a damaged condition. He also mentioned that only three remaining helicopters are operational.
Helicopters play an important role in the security and emergency operations of a country. The use of such aircraft is especially essential during natural calamities, rescue operations, medical emergencies and security operations.
Meanwhile, reports that most of the Mi-17 helicopters in the country’s possession are non-functional have raised questions about the operational capability of the Air Force.
According to information provided by Keerthi Ratnayake, one of the three helicopters in operation is used for trips of important dignitaries. Another helicopter is said to be earmarked for UN-related missions. Due to this, practically the number of helicopters that can be used for other needs of the country may be very less.
Questions Arising In Repairing Defective Helicopters
Keerthy Ratnayake said that proposals have been received from several companies to restore the damaged Mi-17 helicopters to operational condition.
Since then, it has been decided to award the repair work of helicopters to a company which is said to have been proposed during the time of former Defense Secretary Kamal Gunaratna.
Keerthy Ratnayake has alleged that there are restrictions in many countries regarding this company. He also said that ‘Sakura Tech’ is acting as the agent of that company in Sri Lanka. However, the report did not indicate that independent confirmation of these allegations had been provided. Therefore, it is important that official clarifications come out on these issues.
He also mentioned that the contract was for repair of only four helicopters and the repair factory was located in Georgia.
Another important issue is presented here. As Sri Lanka’s Mi-17 helicopters are procured from Russia, international political and security factors may influence their repatriation for repair.
Keerthi Ratnayake has said that there was opposition from the Russian side due to the political and security relations between Russia and the United States regarding Georgia. He also said that due to this the attempt to repair the helicopters has been stopped.
Maintaining a country’s military equipment is not merely a technical activity. Factors such as the country in which a particular piece of equipment is manufactured, where the parts are sourced from, the country in which maintenance is performed, and international restrictions can influence it.
Thus, international regulations and safety related aspects need to be taken into consideration along with the technical requirements before putting the damaged helicopters back into service.
Question about the helicopter used by the President
While one of the three Mi-17 helicopters in operation is said to be used for VIP missions, Keerthy Ratnayake noted that the helicopter’s flying time has also come to an end.
He said that this raises questions regarding the maintenance and safety of the helicopter used for the trips of important dignitaries including the President.
The security of aircraft used for VIP travel is a very important issue. Their technical condition, maintenance history, flying time and regular inspections should all be properly monitored.
In particular, if there are any limitations regarding the aircraft’s designated flight time or maintenance period, exceeding them may pose a safety risk. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an authoritative technical explanation to the public in this regard.
Meanwhile, if efforts to repair the damaged helicopters are hampered by international concerns, Sri Lanka may have to explore alternatives. Considerations may need to be made in the future, such as choosing another country suitable for repairs, finding ways to obtain spare parts, or purchasing the necessary new aircraft equipment.
Keerthy Ratnayake has also warned that such actions risk entangling Sri Lanka in international conflicts.
However, it cannot be said that all the allegations and information presented by him have been confirmed by the relevant government agencies. In particular, official information should be released regarding which helicopters are non-operational, what is their maintenance status, and the full details of the contract for repairs.
Helicopters play an important role in Sri Lanka’s security and emergency services. Therefore, it is imperative that all activities related to their maintenance and use are carried out transparently and in accordance with safety regulations.
If the report that 19 out of 22 Mi-17 helicopters are out of order is true, this is a matter of serious concern in terms of long-term maintenance and safety planning. At the same time, it is important to ensure the safety of operating helicopters.
Whether there will be any further clarifications from the Ministry of Defense or the Air Force in the future regarding this issue is currently being observed.