Anura Kumara rocks the boat over floating armoury failure

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

Our Lobby Correspondent

Opposition lawmaker Anura Dissanayake in Parliament yesterday criticised Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Government for ignoring the rule of law and protecting the suspects implicated in the floating armoury case. 

These suspects include former Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Avant Garde Maritime Services Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi.

MP Dissanayake raised a series of questions under 23 (2) of the Standing Orders.

“The decisions pertaining to national security are a responsibility of the President on par with Article 4 of the Constitution. But the Defence Secretary has taken the decision to allow a floating armoury within Sri Lanka’s marine border, violating the Constitution. What right does he have to take such a decision? Former Ambassador to Nigeria A.S.P. Liyanage has inked the agreements between Nigerian companies and Avant Garde. Who authorised Liyanage to play the role of a mediator in these agreements? According to international law, floating armouries should not be maintained within a country’s territorial waters but only in international seas. Who authorised this armoury to be docked and maintained in Galle Harbour?” Dissanayake asked.

“What are the official records maintained for each firearm? Who monitored these records? Using and issuing such weapons for the use of sea marshes requires authorisation from the Ministry of Defence. Who maintained these booking notes and has Avant Garde obtained approval from the Ministry of Defence? What were the weapons issued with this approval? What were the weapons not issued to sea marshals? During the tenure of the 100-day Government, Secretary of Defence Basnayake forwarded a written request to a magistrate to release the passport of the Avant Garde Chairman. What right does Basnayake have to do this and what action did the Government take against him? We would like the Prime Minister to explain his plans for this floating armoury and the suspects,” said Dissanayake.

According to him, Avant Garde attempted to bribe State officials, including Minister Rajitha Senaratne, to hide and delay the floating armoury investigation. 

“Will the Prime Minister reconsider reinvestigating the charges against Avant Garde and take necessary action? Training armed forces and providing firearm training is a right vested with the Police and the tri-forces. But such approval is given to Avant Garde within 10 days of a request. Who approved this request and how many were trained? The repercussions will be severe if they have trained ISIS personnel,” warned Dissanayake.

During the last two financial years, Avant Garde made donations worth Rs. 853 million, spent Rs. 1,294 million as expenses related to the Chairman and Rs. 191 million as expenses for the Chairman’s wife. “It is now revealed that donations were made to the Siriliya Foundation as well as the Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation. We will need a list of the people and establishments that received these funds, gifts and donations,” he added.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will respond to Dissanayake’s queries today.