Suryalanka means the "island of the Surya" and was formed as IAF's Missile firing range. It was initially formed as a C&MU and became a station in July 1969 which housed the 259 SU with a P-30 Radar. The role was enhanced to provide facilities for firing GW for Army and Air Force. In Dec 1975 the first station commander took over on being made a permanent establishment. While earlier under the command of CAC, it moved to SAC when SAC was formed in 1984.