Early this week, the latest aircraft crash involving the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) was reported from the China Bay Air Force Base in Trincomalee. While the fact that this incident cost two lives hit the headlines immediately, the discussion that entailed was not limited to this particular crash or the two lost lives.
Allegations have surfaced that the crashed aircraft was manufactured over six decades ago, which raises obvious questions of their suitability to continue to remain in operation. In addition, Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara added that these types of aircraft should be withdrawn from use without continuing to put pilots’ lives in danger in an irresponsible manner. These claims have been rejected by the SLAF, which further said that the aircraft in question was in fact manufactured in 2018.
A probe into the crash is in progress, which the public believe would reveal what specific factors led to the crash. However, Sri Lanka should go beyond this particular crash in order to find out more long term and sustainable preventive measures.
It is notable that this is not the first of such crashes. During the past five to six years, one Y12 transport aircraft and two PT-6 two seat trainers crashed. Even though investigations were reportedly launched to look into these crashes, there are no reports of the results of those investigations. At least in the public domain. Although one can label these probes as internal ones, such lack of information points towards a considerable lack of transparency and accountability on the part of the Government, and the SLAF. Why should those details remain confidential, is a very valid concern, because, in reality, defense forces including the SLAF are made up of citizens, and are being maintained with the taxpayers’ hard earned money. The armed forces exist to serve the taxpaying citizens and the nation. Also, shouldn’t the families of the dead know why and what happened to their kin?
Allegations such as those raised in the recent crash are all the more reason as to why such transparency is necessary, because the lack of information is often what creates a breeding ground for misinformation. Even if there is a national security related concern, about the series of crashes over the last few years, the authorities can withhold any sensitive information and can reveal such as outcomes as, cause of the crash and the recommendations made to prevent further ones.
What is more, the role of the political authority in this regard is important. Although the Defence Ministry submits an annual report to the Parliament, there are no reports of the Parliamentary Select Committee on National Security or the one on defence calling for explanations about such accidents. When the political authority has chosen such a lackadaisical approach in incidents of national concern, it is not surprising that the authorities, who in this case are the SLAF, are also not willing to be more transparent and accountable about such incidents.
Defence is not a sector that Sri Lanka can have unresolved doubts about. On the one hand, the defence sector, including the public security sector, receives one of the biggest shares of annual budgetary allocations, which are significantly higher than the amounts allocated for crucial, essential sectors such as health and education. In fact, after the war the defence budget has been on the rise, and as per reports, military recruitment took place until very recently. On the other hand, as a country in which many national level activities revolve around the national security narrative, how safely and beneficially the defense forces handle and maintain their resources are matters that the forces should consider extremely important.
In a context where the incumbent Government has stated that they will “right size” the defence forces and has commenced a review process regarding the same, the importance of conducting a safety audit for the entire defence force’s fleet of aircraft, vessels and vehicles, should receive attention. What sort of equipment they are in possession of, how they are being maintained and handled, what plans and policies are in place to dispose of and replace unsuitable equipment, and what existing safety measures need to be improved, are matters that require attention. Sri Lankans have seen how the national security narrative has been misused and abused in the past. However, we owe it to the taxpayers and the service personnel to make the armed forces as transparent, well equipped and safe as possible. This is in the national interest, the accountability and transparency aspects of the defence and security sector is as important as in any other field.If the Government expects the people to keep funding the cost of defence expenditure, the least it can do is keep the people apprised of how safely the defence forces are operating.
With the Government’s current catchphrase being that of ‘reforms’, and the defence establishment being under review, what better time to make the sector more professional, accountable, safe and efficient. The Government’s 2030 Defence Review, should include a review of all such accidents, deaths, and an assessment of the suitability of the kit and fleet the armed forces has to work with.