Condemned police guns in Avant Garde stock

Condemned police guns in Avant Garde stock

By Niranjala Ariyawansha-2015-11-15

Initial investigations by Defence authorities into the Avant Garde floating armoury vessel have revealed that 43 weapons with defaced serial numbers, found aboard, are believed to have belonged to the LTTE.

Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne told Ceylon Today that these 43 weapons are likely to be linked to the LTTE.
"If not, there is no reason for their serial numbers to be defaced. This is a critical situation. These weapons will be handed over to the Government Analyst for further inspection. Afterwards, we will be able to ascertain the ownership of these weapons," he stated.
He added 264 weapons out of 816 were condemned F84 rifles which had belonged to the Sri Lanka Police. The minister said he had asked IGP N.K. Illangakoon how these condemned weapons ended up in the hands of the Avant Garde Company but Illangakoon denied any knowledge of this, the minister said.

The government had then ordered the IGP to get the AG's advice and investigate how these F84 model weapons got onto the Avant Garde and submit his report to the government quickly.
He expressed suspicions as to how these F 84 guns which were condemned and withdrawn from service ended up in the hands of the Avant Garde Company.

After those firearms were condemned the police were given T56 model guns during the war. The T56 model is a repeater whereas the F84 is a single loader. He added the guns had the names of the police stations they belonged engraved into the butts.
The Navy transferred to a Naval vessel the 1816 weapons and ammunition from the Avant Garde and Mahanuwara vessels. Navy Spokesperson Captain Akram Alavi told Ceylon Today that identifying and taking stock of the transferred weapons would take at least five days. The seized weapons will be stored at the Southern Boossa Naval base.