Captain Shamika Rupasinghe, Sri Lanka’s second female pilot.

What inspired you to become a pilot?

“As a young child, around the age of two or three, I would watch aircraft soar through the sky and tell my mother that I wanted to become a pilot. This childhood dream stayed with me and, as I grew older and entered university, I was determined to turn that dream into reality. Through hard work and dedication, I was able to achieve my goal and here I am today.”

Your career journey and key achievements?

After graduating from Visaka College and Jayawardenepura University, I pursued my dream of becoming a pilot despite initial skepticism from my parents about the stability of this career path. To support my training financially, I worked as a flight stewardess with Sri Lankan Airlines while completing my degree in mathematics, statistics, and physics, as well as the final level of CIMA.

I undertook my flight training in the USA, earning a private pilot license, commercial pilot license, instrument rating, and multi-engine rating. Upon returning to Sri Lanka, I faced a highly competitive selection process at Sri Lankan Airlines, which hires only a few cadet pilots each year. After failing initially, I studied diligently and succeeded in securing a position. I was trained on Airbus A320, A330, and A340 models, and after three years, I was promoted to captain. I have been serving as a captain for the past twelve years.

 The aviation industry has been quite well dominated so how you manage to not just to survive about to drive in that environment.

CAPTAIN SHAMIKA: While the aviation industry is predominantly male-dominated, Sri Lankan Airlines has been commendable in ensuring gender equality. Women, like their male counterparts, undergo rigorous training and must perform exceptionally to advance. Initially trained on the Airbus A320, successful candidates are then promoted to the A330 and A340 models based on their performance.

Success in this field demands significant effort and dedication. Hard work, rather than luck, is the key to achieving one’s goals as a pilot. It requires a strong commitment and relentless pursuit to excel in this challenging profession.

Making fast decision is crucial in your job how did you take this experience and apply it to your personal life as parent mother or a wife.

CAPTAIN SHAMIKA: As a pilot, making critical decisions at high altitudes, often under challenging conditions like poor weather or equipment failure, requires precision and efficiency due to the severe consequences of mistakes. This high-stakes decision-making mirrors the multitasking and organizational skills needed in personal life, such as managing household responsibilities and caring for children. The experience gained from handling these responsibilities both in the cockpit and at home enhances my ability to balance professional and personal roles effectively.

Have you ever encountered the situation where despite you have the same qualification and experience as a male counterpart and the opportunity was simply given to him because you are a woman and how did you navigate this such challenges and advocated these opportunities?

CAPTAIN SHAMIKA: At Sri Lankan Airlines, I have not faced gender discrimination and have been treated equally with the same promotional opportunities as male colleagues, provided performance is consistent. However, some global airlines do not offer opportunities to female pilots, partly due to financial concerns related to maternity, as pregnant pilots cannot fly for several months. In contrast, Sri Lankan Airlines supports female pilots by maintaining their salary and reassigning them to other tasks during pregnancy, a level of consideration not always extended by other companies.

In a country where it’s often men marries women who have regular 9 to five jobs uh you have chosen carrying Aviation and that’s not typical soft job how did you go breaking this Norm 

CAPTAIN SHAMIKA: When my parents were seeking a potential spouse for me, I made it clear that I would not marry anyone who demanded I quit my job. Fortunately, I found a husband who supports and values my career. Given the demanding nature of my work, which involves international flights and extended stays away from home, having a supportive partner is crucial. Initially, my young children struggled with my absences and would cry when they saw me in uniform. However, as they have grown older, I now explain my travel plans using a map, making it easier for them to understand and accept my work schedule.

As you have broken barriers how does it make you fair are you proud what you have achieved as a woman today and your family does, they show their pride in what you have done.

CAPTAIN SHAMIKA:  My journey to success has certainly not been a smooth one. I’ve had to overcome numerous barriers to get to where I am today. As I always say, excellence is not achieved by accident; it requires a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication. True success is often accompanied by the challenges and pain of failure, and I firmly believe that experiencing these hardships is a crucial part of the journey.

Fortunately, my parents, family, husband, and children all understand and support what I do. Their pride in my achievements is a testament to the sacrifices and efforts that have brought me to this point.

What in your view defines an independent woman and do you think being self-reliant is important?

CAPTAIN SHAMIKA: While financial independence is a key aspect of personal success for today’s women, true independence within a family involves mutual support and shared responsibilities. My experience has shown that balancing personal goals with family life requires collaboration and understanding. My mother, who raised three daughters, emphasized the importance of financial self-reliance and supported us in our careers while achieving her own goals. Her guidance on integrating personal ambitions with family life has been instrumental in shaping my approach to success.

What’s your vision for the future women in aviation and what steps do you think that we need to take uh for more gender equal industry and how do you see that your role is inspiring now generation.

CAPTAIN SHAMIKA: Initially, there were no female pilots in Sri Lanka, and our parents were hesitant about supporting our aviation ambitions due to a lack of understanding of the field. However, as more women entered the industry, it became clear that one could successfully balance a fulfilling career with family responsibilities. Women today can make more informed decisions about pursuing this career, given the commitment and hard work required. During a challenging period with two young children and demanding work, I considered quitting. My mother’s advice, comparing the necessity of multiple income sources in a family to having two engines on an aircraft, encouraged me to persist. Despite the difficulties, her support helped me continue and succeed in my career.

So in 2024 International women’s Day this year the theme is Inspire inclusion  what is your idea about it and also is it important to celebrate women’s day in Sri Lanka

CAPTAIN SHAMIKA : Motivating others and encouraging women’s involvement in diverse fields is crucial for fostering respect, relevance, and empowerment. Women’s Day should not be limited to a single day but should represent a year-round commitment to recognizing and supporting women’s achievements and addressing their challenges. Genuine progress involves continuous dialogue, persistent efforts toward gender equality, and active engagement of women in all aspects of life. It’s about creating a culture that values and appreciates women daily, not just during specific events.

What do you think about she digital media that is usually Medias are mainly male Dominator so uh but in she digital were mostly talking about women and for their voice and for their topics what do you think about this CAPTAIN SHAMIKA: I am truly grateful to She Digital Media for its dedication to empowering women and addressing women’s issues. Your channel plays a crucial role in providing a platform for women in this country and highlighting their achievements and challenges. Thank you for the important work you’re doing. I wish you all the very best for continued success and impact in the future.