§ Mr. Wilkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has received from the Government of Ceylon for British armaments to counter insurgency in that country; and whether he has been able to meet those requests and from what sources.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleWe have been able to respond promptly to requests from the Ceylon Government for supplies of small arms, ammunition, communications equipment and vehicles. These requests are being met from British Service sources in the United Kingdom and Singapore, and from commercial sources in the United Kingdom. Her Majesty's Government have also purchased on behalf of the Ceylon Government Six Bell helicopters which have been delivered to Colombo under arrangements made in co-operation with the United States Government. We have assured Mrs. Bandaranaike of our willingness to help Ceylon, as a fellow member of the Commonwealth, in the present emergency and she has expressed her Government's appreciation of the assistance which we have been able to provide.