Helitours (Colombo Ratmalana) is planning to acquire two passenger aircraft as part of plans to resume regular domestic Sri Lankan operations.

Owned by the Sri Lanka Air Force (Colombo International), Helitours will source the aircraft via a lease/purchase initiative in partnership with an undisclosed privately-run entity. The proposal has already garnered the support of the government.

Helitours was forced to suspend its local flights in March this year after the Sri Lankan Civil Aviation Authority grounded its pair of MA-60s citing unspecified technical issues. Since then, it has continued to operate albeit offering charters around the island using a Y12 and a Bell Helicopter 412.

As the aircraft reportedly lack Certificates of Airworthiness and are therefore uninsured, all passengers flying on them are required to sign indemnity forms prior to departure.