Senior officers of the Air Force have already expressed displeasure over the move saying it is against regulations.

Cinnamon Air already has two foreign pilots flying its planes.

Cinnamon Air is managed by Saffron Aviation Pvt Ltd and come under a combined consortium of MMBL Holdings, John Keells Holdings and Phoenix Ventures.

The two pilots are however paid by the Air Force and reported to have been enlisted with the knowledge of their commander.

Cinnamon Air is said to be paying the Air Force a small amount compared to what they would have had to pay to contract two overseas pilots.

Cinnamon Air admitted when asked by srilankamirror whether they enlisted pilots from the Air Force.