Leading miller to take wings to U.S. for private helicopter purchase

Colombo, Feb. 16 (Daily Mirror) - Reaffirming his plan for investment in the aviation business, Sri Lanka's leading mill owner Mithrapala Lankeshwara said that he would fly to the United States tomorrow to finalise the purchase of yet another aircraft for commercial purposes in Sri Lanka.

Lankeshwara told Daily Mirror that he would be examining the aircraft manufactured by Robinson Helicopter Company in the United States.

It is a leading helicopter manufacturing company in the world.

"I will share more details after I return," he said.

He recently visited the Singapore Airshow 2026 to explore opportunities for acquiring a new helicopter to expand his aviation operations.

The discussions were facilitated by Ceylon Aeronautical Services (CAS), the independent representative for Bell Helicopter sales in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

He is currently operating a Robinson R66 Turbine helicopter for commercial services within Sri Lanka.

Earlier, another leading rice mill owner, Dudley Sirisena , the brother of former President Maithripala Sirisena, announced his intention to buy a helicopter.

The government has also sought to expand the domestic aviation industry to facilitate the tourism growth.