Sri Lanka is to purchase six turboprop-powered MA60 transport aircraft from China with the help of a Chinese government preferred loan scheme, an aviation website quoted an official at Xian Aircraft as saying.

Sri Lanka is to receive two of its MA60s this year, with the remainder to be delivered in 2011, says the Xian official.

Sri Lanka's ports and aviation ministry confirms that the country is in negotiations to buy six MA60s for the air force. Four of the MA60s will be dedicated for use by the service, but the other two may end up at state-owned carrier Mihin Lanka, it adds.

The Sri Lankan air force currently relies on Antonov An-32s, Lockheed Martin C-130Ks and Chinese-built Harbin Y12s for its transport activities.

Chinese firms are helping to finance and build airports, roads and other infrastructure in Sri Lanka, and Beijing often makes soft loans to such countries, the aviation website reported.

Source: Daily Mirror online