In a move that defies its reformist promises, the NPP government is set to hand Sri Lanka’s aviation watchdog to a Mahinda-era insider, bypassing more qualified candidates, ignoring public trust, and inviting a political firestorm
In a move that is already causing murmurs of disbelief across political and professional circles, the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) government is on the verge of appointing a former Mahinda Rajapaksa loyalist as the new Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a position that demands absolute integrity, technical expertise and public trust.
What makes this decision even more alarming is that both shortlisted candidates Primal De Silva and Daminda Rambukwella are not only deeply connected to the Rajapaksa political machine, but also carry baggage from their chequered professional pasts. This, despite there being other highly qualified, independent, and reputable applicants who were simply shut out of the process.
Qualified Candidates Snubbed, Favourites Ushered In
Two initial applicants, who ticked every box in terms of academic qualifications, international aviation credentials, and industry experience, were mysteriously excluded from even being invited for the interview. Instead, the interview panel comprising Minister Bimal Ratnayake, Deputy Minister Janith Ruwan Kodituwakku, CAASL Chairman Sunil Jayaratne, and a Ministry Additional Secretary only called the acting DGCA Rehan Wanniappa, Primal De Silva, and Daminda Rambukwella.
It is believed that Rehan Wanniappa has been sidelined leaving the other two candidates in the hunt for the position.
The outcome of this process now seems less about merit and more about keeping political networks alive under a government that came to power promising to dismantle them.
Daminda Rambukwella: A Turbulent Trail of Allegations
Rambukwella’s career reads less like a résumé and more like a case study in political favoritism. His ascent has been greased by close personal ties to power, most notably his friendship with Defence Ministry Secretary and former Air Force colleague Sampath Thuyacontha. The connection runs so deep that when Rambukwella married, none other than former President Mahinda Rajapaksa stood as a witness at the ceremony, a symbolic stamp of approval that speaks volumes about where his loyalties lie and how his career doors have been opened.
His professional record is no less controversial:
- Air Force Exit & Legal Action: Rambukwella once filed a case against the Air Force before leaving the service.
- CAA Resignation & Return: He joined the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) only to resign, later joining SriLankan Airlines as a pilot where he was eventually dismissed for failing training, with allegations that he still owes the airline training fees.
- Mysterious Promotion: Despite this, he re-entered the CAA at an even higher rank than when he left. Today, he sits as Deputy Director General of Flight Safety Regulation a role that itself demands scrutiny.
Primal De Silva: The Master of Quiet Influence
De Silva’s rise began not through instructional expertise but through calculated union manoeuvres. As a Flight Purser at SriLankan Airlines, his big break came when, as head of the Flight Attendant Union, he orchestrated a global strike to back then-CEO Peter Hill against senior Emirates Airline figure Walter Riggens.
His loyalty was rewarded with a managerial post – Cabin Crew Safety Training Manager, despite never having conducted a single safety training session as an instructor. From there, he navigated the politically charged corridors of SriLankan Airlines with remarkable skill, aligning himself with powerful figures from Chairman Nishantha Wickremesinghe to Namal Rajapaksa.
Notable incidents linked to his tenure include:
- The Temple Trees placement of stewardess Nithya Senanaya Samaranayaka at Namal Rajapaksa’s request.
- The manipulation of flight rosters of a particular flight stewardesses to suit Chairman Wickremesinghe’s personal relationship with her.
- Actively supported Namal Rajapaksa’s ‘Nil Balakaya’ or politically alligned Youth Brigade.
De Silva eventually became General Manager of Sri Lankan Aviation College before retiring at 55. But retirement did not end his influence as he resurfaced under the NPP government as a Director at the Airport and Aviation Authority, quietly re-establishing his networks.
His current positioning for DGCA appears to be the culmination of that quiet strategy.
Past Patterns: When “Change” Becomes Continuity
This isn’t an isolated incident, it fits into a disturbing pattern of the NPP recycling politically-entrenched figures into positions of power while sidelining qualified, independent professionals.
- State Enterprises: In the past year alone, multiple state-owned enterprises have seen appointments of individuals with political baggage rather than industry expertise, raising serious doubts about meritocracy.
- Regulatory Bodies: Similar concerns arose when politically-linked individuals were appointed to leadership roles in regulatory authorities that directly oversee public safety and national infrastructure.
- Foreign Service: Several diplomatic postings have been filled not by career diplomats but by personal associates of senior politicians echoing the very practices the NPP once condemned.
The public expectation in 2024 was clear: dismantle the entrenched political patronage network that had suffocated Sri Lanka’s institutions. But the reality in 2025 is starkly different, the NPP appears to be reinforcing it.
A Critical Test of Credibility
The Civil Aviation Authority is not just another public office it is a vital national regulator responsible for passenger safety, compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, and the country’s aviation reputation.
Handing over its leadership to politically-entrenched figures with questionable track records is a move that invites domestic outrage and international scrutiny. The consequences go beyond public perception, poor leadership here could directly impact air safety oversight, airline licensing and even Sri Lanka’s standing in global aviation rankings.
For a government swept into power on a wave of public hope, this appointment is nothing short of a betrayal. The NPP may have expected it to slip quietly under the radar, but the backlash is building.
The people didn’t vote for the recycling of old loyalties. They voted for reform, transparency, and integrity. And in yet another bitter twist, they are being served the very same political games they thought they had rejected.
Political Fallout: The Backlash Has Only Just Begun
The impending appointment of a Rajapaksa-era loyalist to head Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority will not pass quietly. The NPP, already facing growing discontent over its inability to deliver on promised reforms, is now inviting a full-blown credibility crisis.
Inside Parliament
Opposition MPs – from both the traditional parties and the independent reformist blocs, are already preparing to seize on this decision as proof that the NPP’s rhetoric of “system change” was nothing more than electioneering. Expect heated exchanges in upcoming sessions, with demands for the government to disclose:
- Why the most qualified, independent candidates were shut out of the interview process.
- What due diligence was done on the shortlisted candidates’ professional and ethical histories.
- Whether ICAO or any other international aviation oversight body has been consulted about the leadership shift.
Media Scrutiny
Sri Lanka’s press – particularly the independent and online investigative platforms are poised to treat this as a symbolic case of the NPP slipping into the same murky practices it vowed to destroy. Expect exposés, leaked documents, and resurfaced scandals from the candidates’ past careers to dominate headlines in the coming weeks.
International aviation media may also pick up the story, especially given the potential implications for safety oversight and compliance. This could tarnish Sri Lanka’s reputation in global aviation circles something the tourism and business sectors can ill afford.
Public Sentiment
Perhaps most damaging for the NPP is the growing frustration among its own supporters. The party’s base which voted overwhelmingly for reform and the dismantling of political cronyism is now forced to watch as the government fills a critical safety-regulatory role with individuals tied to the very political dynasty they sought to remove from influence.
Social media is already bristling with commentary, memes, and hashtags accusing the NPP of becoming “Rajapaksa 2.0.” Civil society organisations, professional aviation bodies, and youth movements are expected to issue statements condemning the appointment.
The Warning Shot
If the NPP presses forward with this appointment, it risks cementing the perception that it is incapable or unwilling to break with the culture of political favouritism. In a political landscape where trust is already fragile, this could accelerate the erosion of the party’s legitimacy and galvanise opposition forces ahead of the next electoral cycle.
For a government that rode into office on the promise of a new political dawn, this is a dangerous miscalculation. The people of Sri Lanka didn’t vote for recycled loyalties or strategic betrayals, they voted for a clean break.
The NPP’s choice here will not just define the future of Sri Lanka’s aviation authority; it could define the future of the NPP itself.
Would be the worst duration for CAA of SL. Act and take the side of his close friends and always partial and take his own decisions nevertheless their accuracy over the situation, highly a bad tempered character. No consideration over wisdom nor subject expertise he wastes time and money to promote outer appearance but not obey procedures A very close friend of Minister Vijitha H. He speaks good english but not having a matured brain.
I wouldn’t hold him that high as to having a good command of English. Even if it is so, proficiency Proficiency in English has no correlation to his eligibility to fit into the position of DG of CAA. He was merely a cabin crew member who used his connections to rise up to what he was. There is no academic qualifications what so ever, unless he has got any, the way Chichi got his doctorate.
I am at a loss to understand how this so-called CLEAN GOVERNMENT can hold surreptitious interviews on a Saturday for a Government High Post and without looking at candidates background proceed to shortlist them. Both are well known Rajapakse Stooges who benefitted immensely from there patronage. I am told that Daminda Rambukwella is a classmate of Prameetha Bandara Tennakoon and a very close friend of Namal Rajapakse.
All these sordid activities of Bimal Ratnayake leads me to believe in their own proverbial saying “Unuth Ekai Munuth Ekai”. NPP = SLPP