 Following Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike's negotiated the closure of British air and naval bases in Ceylon in 1956, the RCyAF took over the former RAF stations; Katunayake and China Bay, becoming RCyAF operational stations while ancillary functions were carried out at Diyatalawa and Ekala.The RAF headquarters, Air HQ Ceylon, was disbanded on 1 November 1957.However RAF officers remained with the RCyAF till 1962.