The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) marked what it described as a milestone in indigenous military technology development with the formal handover of the Vimana SII, a new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
The surveillance drone was developed by the Aeronautical Research and Development Wing (AR&DW) at SLAF Station Katukurunda. Work on the Vimana SII began in 2024, with engineering officers and technicians from the AR&DW collaborating closely with personnel from the No. 27 Regiment Wing based at SLAF Base Ratmalana.
According to a statement issued on 28 March 2025, the Vimana SII is expected to enhance the SLAF’s ability to conduct surveillance operations by providing “critical intelligence support” to the No. 27 Regiment Wing.
The release of the new drone has raised fears of increased surveillance, particularly in the heavily militarised North-East, where Tamils already face frequent harassment and intimidation from the security forces.
The North-East remains one of the most surveilled regions on the island and one of the most militarised places in the world per capita. Despite the end of the armed conflict in 2009, the Sri Lankan military continues to maintain a significant presence across the Tamil homeland, with the state security forces frequently monitoring, surveilling and blocking protests, commemorations, and other civilian activities.