Later, when India gained Independence, the domestic airlines combined and formed AIR INDIA for their interstate operations and AIR INDIA INTERNATIONAL for international operations. During that time, neither Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) nor Singapore International Airlines (SIA) existed. In 1950, IATA (International Air Transport Association) granted Air Ceylon route rights to operate to London and Singapore. The Minister of Aviation was Leslie Gunawardena, a staunch Socialist, and Mr. Sam de Silva was appointed Chairman of Air Ceylon. Out of the ashes of Air Ceylon, AIR LANKA rose like Phoenix with a new logo with Capt.

Source: The Nation November 21, 2020 00:56 UTC