The Cabinet has given the approval to the Sri Lanka Air Force to purchase four helicopters to train helicopter pilots for peace keeping duties overseas, Cabinet Spokesman Ramesh Pathirana said.

Minister Pathirana also said that SLAF personnel were serving in Sudan and Central Africa now and a contingent of helicopter pilots were urgently needed for their UN sponsored peace keeping mission.

“The decision has been taken as the two helicopters in use to train pilots were purchased in 1981 and purchasing a few modern helicopters is extremely vital,” Minister Pathirana said.