Floating armoury report to AG
Huge forex loss, illegal procedures likely focus:
by Dhaneshi Yatawara
The probe report on the suspected illegal arms deal racket of the
Avant Garde and Rakna Araksha Lanka security firms has been handed over
to the Attorney General, but government officials were tightlipped on
who were being lined up for further investigations and possible criminal
prosecution.
According to Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara, the
investigations were conducted to ascertain the manner in which the
business was established - whether illegal means were used and the legal
accountability of the weapons.
“This includes weapons that belonged to the Avant Garde and the
private and maritime security companies that used the warehouse,” said
Gunasekara.
The report is expected to indicate the exact value of the huge amount
of foreign exchange the country lost.
Given the global controversy over Sri Lankan maritime defence links
in recent years and the allegations of illegal and shady deals during
the previous government, there is much international attention on the
probe into the maritime security business undertaken with much secrecy
by the security firms, Avant Garde and Rakna Araksha Lanka.
On information reaching the Police Southern range DIG office in the
post-election days in January, loads of weapons and ammunition were
recovered from seven containers on the private naval ship Mahanuwara
which was the floating warehouse of the Avant Garde Maritime Services.
The ship was in the Galle harbour.
Investigations revealed that the armouries were operating under
licence issued by the Ministry of Defence.
Avant Garde Maritime Services is operational as of today – doing
business as usual. “The CID is currently conducting an investigation to
determine if the company’s permit to maintain a floating armoury was
obtained legally,” ASP Gunasekara said.
Arms dealing is a lucrative business. Therefore, the police are also
investigating the accountability for the weapons. “However, since the
company has a permit, there is nothing to stop the company from
continuing operations at the site,” Gunasekara said.
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