Avant Garde uncovered

* Gun running in international waters
*Illegal storage of firearms within and outside Sri Lanka
*Dealings with international terror outfits
*Dealings with Mafia groups
*Wilful violation of both local and international laws
* Involvement in a number of highly questionable practices - Manager Operations reveals all

The plot thickens with a former employee of Avant Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd - subsidiary of private security firm Avant Garde Security Services (Pvt) Ltd, spilling the beans about the inside operations of the floating armoury - highlighting a number of violations of several laws with national security implications.

In this instance, a retired captain of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Deshakirthi Udaya Dissanayake (44) who has reportedly functioned in the capacity of Manager Operations for the said company in Kenya, has come forward to challenge former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, levelling serious allegations about wilful violation of both local and international laws, including alleged illegal gun running, transactions with international terror outfits and the conduct of operations in an illegal manner.

Dissanayake has come out strong, slamming both the former Defence Secretary and Avant Garde Chairman, Nissanka Senadhipathi, for allegedly carrying out an illegal weapon trade, in a complaint he filed on 11 May 2015 with the Criminal Investigations Department(CID), highlighting a number of highly questionable practices.

Speaking to the Sunday Observer, Dissanayake claimed that the alleged illegal arms truncations were carried out in several countries, with the assistance of several organizations offering facilitation.

“The facilitation comes in the form of unloading and storage of weapons, support services for mid sea transactions as well as facilitating company employees entry into other countries on tourist visas to complete transactions.”

“Between October 2012 and March 2013, several shiploads of weapons were loaded from Galle and unloaded in Fujairah and South Sudan. Several ships were used for this purpose and all involved should be questioned by the authorities because it is an illegal operation,” Dissanayake charged.

At present, one of the vessels, MV Mahanuwara was taken into custody whereas three other floating armouries, MV Sinbad, MV Alfonso and MV Avant Garde are still to be nabbed, he added.

The State-run Daily News quoting Captain Dissanayake reported that the floating armoury in the Galle Harbour and the armoury hidden at the BMICH also flouted the Fire Arms Act.

It said that he has also given information “regarding air freighting of some weapons stocks to Tanzania and Dubai by the two companies”.

According to Dissanayake, the former Defence Secretary and the company chief have maintained links with a notorious international arms dealer by the name of Bruno Parrigon who engaged in illegal weapon trading and worked in Mafia groups and terrorist outfits.

In his complaint, he has also alleged that a group led by Major Nissanka Senadhipathi had threatened him with death for providing information to the CID during investigations carried out against Avant Garde Company.

The revelations come soon after the Supreme Court issued an interim order in favour of former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, which effectively prevents the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Financial Crimes Division (FCID) from arresting him.

The Supreme Court granted Rajapaksa Leave to Proceed on his fundamental rights plea in which he claimed he had been summoned to the FCID to obtain a statement over the purchase of four MiG 27 aircraft and the alleged investment of money belonging to Lanka Hospitals Ltd, with the intention to arrest him forthwith.

The interim order remains effective until the determination of Rajapaksa’s FR pleas, which is scheduled to be taken up on 6 October.

On April 21, President Maithripala Sirisena appointed the new board of directors of Rakna Araksha Lanka Ltd (RALL).Victor Samaraweera was appointed chairman of RALL with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, authoritative sources confirmed that the initial inquiry report has been thoroughly scrutinized by the Attorney General’s Department.

It is further learnt that a series of illegalities have been committed ‘largely due to the modus operandi’ of the company in question, including the transportation of firearms from and to Sri Lanka, illegal storage of firearms within and outside Sri Lanka, possession of fire arms without valid licenses, conspiracy, illegal recruitment practices and aiding and abetting of a number of associated offences.

Authoritative sources confirmed that investigations have led to the conclusion that serious violations of the Firearms Ordinance, Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Law of the Sea have been violated by the operations.

In this regard, it is learnt, that the AG’s Department is currently engaged in further studying the actions to be taken against the former Defence Secretary and the top leadership of Rakna Lanka Araksha Lanka (RALL) and the collaborators.

The venture

Avant Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd is a joint venture partner with Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd (RALL) for floating armouries.

Avant Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd is a subsidiary of Avant Garde Security Services (Pvt) Ltd, incorporated on 24 June 2011 under the Companies Act.Avant Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd entered into a joint venture with Government Owned Business Undertaking (GOBU) of Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd (RALL) of Sri Lanka to provide infrastructure facilities for international maritime security services. The parent company, Avant Garde Security Services (Pvt) Ltd is the largest security company in Sri Lanka, employing over 6,500 personnel.

Avant Garde offers a network of facilities in strategic locations to ensure maritime security companies are assured of obtaining weapons and associated items for passage through piracy risk area and handing over them to be under the control of AGMS / RALL officers at the relevant destination ports.

AG still to instruct CID

The Attorney General’s Department is yet to instruct the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on the follow p action with regard to the questionable security venture Rakna Araksha Lanka Limited (RALL) and its collaborator, Avant Garde Security Services Pvt Ltd.

Deputy Minister of Justice Sujeewa Senasinghe told the Sunday Observer that he was unaware about the progress made on the contentious matter, adding: The AG’s Department said, the matter was referred to the Navy Commander for recommendations in areas relevant to him and awaited the same.”

The matter, full of international implications, is being closely watched by Sri Lanka and the international community, he said.

Before the UN

Claiming of death threats and lack of security, Udaya Dissanayake said that he is under constant pressure by “forces against him’ for allegedly taking up the issue of illegal weapons trading by the former defence Secretary with his associates, risking the safety of employees.

“They didn’t pay me which was when I first raised the issue of a contract of employment, secure visas to carry out these risky operations in unknown countries, particularly in the African continent. First, there are serious labour law violations and the company owes me Rs. 1.6 million as payment,’ he charged.

Ever since his decision to part ways, due to non-payment of wages and sending on assignment with tourist visas which could have led to being arrested on foreign soil, Dissanayake claims that he has received death threats.

Following his complaint it the CID last week, Dissanayke intends seeking UN protection, as he has not been provided with any security ,despite the availability of recorded threats by powerful persons, to his safety and security.