South Asia Foresight Network Appoints Air Vice Marshal Dilshan Wasage as Senior Fellow

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC | October 28, 2025 - The South Asia Foresight Network (SAFN), a leading South Asian think tank under the Millennium Project, is pleased to announce the appointment of Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Dilshan Wasage as a Senior Fellow.

“At a time of heightened regional security volatility in South Asia, the protection of strategic infrastructure—particularly in port operations—remains paramount for a geostrategic hub like Sri Lanka,” said Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, Executive Director of SAFN. “Air Vice Marshal Wasage brings unmatched expertise in military intelligence and unmanned aerial systems (UAVs), having pioneered UAV operations in the South Asian region. We are deeply honored to welcome him to SAFN, where his experience will contribute significantly to our work on regional and maritime security.”

Air Vice Marshal M.D.J. Wasage, VSV, USP, MSc (Def Stud) in Management, psc, PgDip in IR, Dip in HR, is a decorated officer with an illustrious career spanning over three decades in the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). He completed his basic and advanced flying training at the Indian Air Force Flying Academy, earning his flying brevet, and has logged over 1,600 flight hours as a helicopter pilot. Transitioning later to UAV operations, he became a pioneer in unmanned aerial vehicle operations in South Asia, commanding multiple UAV squadrons and accumulating over 1,000 UAV flight hours.

AVM Wasage played a pivotal role in introducing the C4ISR system and in designing and commanding the Battle Management Command Center at the SLAF, contributing strategically to the success of Sri Lanka’s humanitarian operations against terrorism. He holds a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies (Management) and has undergone advanced military and security training in the United States and Israel. He is a certified Israeli UAV mission commander and instructor, and has completed programs on Intelligence Applications (USAF), Advanced Security Cooperation (Hawaii), and Nuclear Security and Counterterrorism (USA).

A member of UVS International, AVM Wasage has represented Sri Lanka as a speaker at several international forums on Unmanned Air Surveillance and Counterinsurgency. He previously commanded the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) as the overall Security Operations Commander during the pandemic, oversaw Air Force Headquarters Colombo, and served as Director of Air Intelligence of the SLAF. His distinguished service has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Vishista Seva Vibushanaya (VSV) and Uthama Seva Padakkama (USP) medals.

He currently serves as Director of Security Operations at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), overseeing all port security and intelligence operations across SLPA-managed ports nationwide.

SAFN is one of the fastest-growing South Asia/ASEAN–focused research networks in Washington, D.C. The organization is committed to strengthening its research capabilities and expanding international collaboration on issues vital to South Asia/ASEAN’s governance, economic resilience, and regional security.

For more information, please visit www.southasiaforesight.net