The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has responded to concerns raised by the Opposition on the Government’s moves to purchase new helicopters from Russia.
Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa told Parliament that the government must get its priorities correct and halt the order placed for the purchase of new helicopters from Russia.
Speaking during the adjournment debate in Parliament, he said that the government should not waste funds on purchasing new helicopters at a time when the country was facing a new wave of COVID 19.
Responding to the MP’s concerns, the Sri Lanka Air Force said it will procure four MI – 17 Helicopters under the Russian Military Credit Facility as a result of years of negotiations between the Government of Russia and Sri Lanka.
SLAF Spokesman Dushan Wijesinghe explained that the Russian government has agreed to provide the loan at a very low interest rate as well as a long-term repayment structure.
The spokesman said the four aircraft are expected to be procured by the SLAF for future UN peacekeeping operations.
Dushan Wijesinghe further assured that the SLAF is confident that Sri Lanka will be able to repay the loan with the foreign exchange earned by contributing to the operation.
He said the SLAF has been attached to the UN peacekeeping mission since 2014, with two Air Force Squadrons assigned to peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and Central African Republic.
He pointed out that these squadrons have provided US$112 million or approximately Rs. 22,400 million to the Treasury this year alone. (NewsWire)