Sri Lanka: Move to shelve aircraft deal
( March 13, 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) While quoting the government sources, the Sunday Times, weekly newspaper based in Colombo reported, that the Government would introduce cut backs on what is being described as non-priority expenditure in view of the prevailing economic crisis.
One such measure that will be put on hold is expected to be an ambitious plan by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) to buy two 20-year-old C-130 K transport aircraft. One of the aircraft is a long body version whilst the other is a standard version. They are being offered for sale for Sterling Pounds 17.5 million each (or about Rs. 3,576 million) subject to modifications required by the SLAF.
Marshal Aerospace, a British firm, is working through the UK Ministry of Defence for the sale of these two aircraft. They were retired from the Royal Air Force in October 2013. A four-member SLAF delegation led by Air Force Commander Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala, Air Vice Marshal H.A. Silva (Director, Aeronautical Engineering), Wing Commander P.N. Fernando (Representative of Directorate of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering) and Wing Commander A.P. Jayamaha (C-130 Instructor Pilot) were in Britain on a five day visit in January this year to examine the aircraft.
In a report to the Ministry of Defence, Air Marshal Bulathsinghala said that as per Marshal Aerospace and Defence Group, the two aircraft that were available for inspection could be ferried to Cambridge for refurbishment at short notice. However, he said, “the recovery process of aircraft which are in full storage will be initiated only when SLAF submits the consent to purchase.” He has added that “all Electronic Warfare equipment and some avionics that were installed on these aircraft have been removed due to their security sensitive issues.”
Air Marshal Bulathsinghala said the deal should be on a Government-to-Government basis and that Marshal Aerospace and Defence Group are required to provide product support for maintenance of the aircraft and avionics upgrade equipment. The Ministry of Defence in Britain, he has said, is responsible for obtaining the US State Department approval for re-export. This is because the C-130s are manufactured in the United States.
Earlier, the SLAF procured two C-130K converted tanker aircraft also from Marshal Aerospace. Only one of them is operational now. Hence, parts from the second one had been used whenever replacements had become necessary. At present the two C-130s on offer are in a hangar at Statham in Wales. ( The Sunday Times)
