Mangala promises demilitarisation of North, domestic war crimes probe

... calls upon TNA to join govt. 

BY S VENKAT NARAYAN-January 20, 2015

Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, January 20: Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs Mangala Samaraweera has outlined a series of steps President Maithripala Sirisena’s Government will undertake to achieve national reconciliation in the civil war-ravaged island-nation.

Talking to a select group of journalists here on Monday, he said the new government will demilitarise the Northern Province, order a domestic probe into the excesses reportedly committed during the last phase of the so-called Eelam War IV in 2009, and take suitable steps to provide relief and justice to victims of the civil war that tore the country apart for nearly three decades.

He also said the government will soon initiate a dialogue with the one-million-strong Sri Lankan diaspora scattered across the globe to seek its help to rebuild the North.

The minister expressed the hope that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will respond positively to President Sirisena’s invitation to join the government and actively participate in executing its plans to transform the country into an inclusive liberal democracy.

Samaraweera said the appointment of veteran diplomat HMGS Palihakkara as the civilian Governor of the Northern Province in place of one-time Jaffna military commander and Major General GA Chandrasiri, and the lifting of restrictions banning foreign nationals visiting former war zones are initial signals of what the government wants to do to achieve national reconicliation.

When I asked what the government plans to do at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) meeting in Geneva when the human rights situation in Sri Lanka will come up for discussion in March, he said the government will soon set up a domestic probe with UN assistance into what actually happened in the war zone in the months before the LTTE was militarily defeated by the security forces in May 2009.

He said he has summoned Sri Lankan envoys in Washington, New York and Geneva to Colombo to discuss this issue on Tuesday.

He dismissed apprehensions that such a probe may upset the majority community in the island, and said: "There is no question of anybody being upset by an honest domestic probe into the crimes the world community says were committed during the last stages of war.

"We owe it to those of our people who were wronged, who were displaced, and who were made to suffer. As an inclusive democratic government, we should try to provide justice, relief and compensation to all those who suffered," Samaraweera declared.

When he made an appeal to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who fled the island during riots and civil war and living in India and other parts of the world to return home, a journalist said former LTTE cadres and banned Tamil terrorist groups may come back and make trouble again, the minister said nothing of the kind will happen.

He explained: "They all are our people. They left their homeland for certain reasons. We are now trying to set things right by running an inclusive government. For decades, we have been trying to achieve national reconciliation without success. People of all communities have voted our government to power. There is a consensus that we all must live together in peace and harmony."

He said it was primarily to dissuade the Sinhalese from voting for the opposition that the previous regime tried to instil in their minds the fear that the LTTE will be reborn if drastic steps are not taken to put the Tamils down. I have met some of the people in London whose groups were banned by the earlier government. I do not believe that they are terrorists."

Samaraweera said the government has been talking to the TNA. "We have invited them to join the government. We are looking forward to having them in the government, and to their active help and participation in achieving genuine national reconiciliation."

He said there are already lots of proposals made to achieve national reconciliation, such as the Thimpu Proposals, the Mangala Moonesinghe Proposals, the CBK (Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga) Proposals, to name but a few. Who go for a new Parliament Select Committee? There’s no need to reinvent the wheel.

"All these years we failed to achieve national reconciliation because there was no political will. Now there is a political will. We are optimistic about pulling it off this time," the minister asserted.

Open to new approach in Geneva: Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Mangala Samaraweera at a meeting in New Delhi on Monday.

He pledged India’s continued support to the close neighbour and "friend."

SUHASINI HAIDAR-NEW DELHI, January 19, 2015

The new Sri Lankan government will take a different position from the Rajapaksa regime when it comes to dealing with the international community on allegations of human rights violations, visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has told the Indian government.

“Our government will take a new approach to the U.N. Human Rights Council process in Geneva. We will offer a domestic mechanism for this, which could be supported by international agencies,” he said.

Asked if President Maithripala Sirisena, who was the acting Defence Minister for a short period during the end of the LTTE war when most of the atrocities are believed to have occurred, would himself explain the Army’s actions, Mr. Samaraweera said: “My President will cooperate fully with a domestic investigation into the issue.” Speaking to a group of media organisations after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, Mr. Samaraweera said his meetings in Delhi had been “warm and fruitful,” even as the leaders announced a host of upcoming bilateral meetings.

Mr. Sirisena is expected to visit India in February, his first international visit after taking over. Mr. Modi will visit Colombo in March, which would be the first state visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Sri Lanka since 1987. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will travel to Sri Lanka ahead of that and also chair the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission meeting at the time.

In the new Sri Lankan government’s most detailed explanation so far of its reconciliation policy for the Tamil-majority provinces, Mr. Samaraweera told Indian journalists that the government had already moved on two demands of the TNA government. To begin with, Mr. Sirisena replaced the military governor of the Northern Province with former U.N. official and diplomat H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, a promise the former President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, had made but never delivered.

The government was also identifying people whose land had been in military use. It would reverse their relocation, he said. While ruling out an international inquiry of the kind pushed for by the U.S., and cleared by the UNHRC in 2014, Mr. Samaraweera hoped that some middle ground would be worked out during this year’s meeting in Geneva in March. Much of the acrimony towards Sri Lanka at the UNHRC was “brought upon Sri Lanka by the previous government’s position,” he said. He also said the government was committed to implementing the contentious “13th amendment” of the Constitution on devolution of powers to Tamil-majority areas, but would start discussions with all parties after the next parliamentary elections.

While downplaying concerns about the resurgence of the LTTE among the Tamil diaspora, Mr. Samaraweera said the new government would welcome back all Sri Lankans who had fled the country over the past few years.

Yahapalanayak Thiyenawada?

By Christine Perera and Visakha Tillekeratne -January 20, 2015 

Citizens of Sri Lanka, especially those who worked for a change without expecting any returns nor positions such as posts of Permanent Secretaries or even Coordinating Secretaries or to be Heads of Authorities or to get a lucrative business deal and so on, are wondering now, about the definition of Yahapalanaya – good governance. Of course the manifesto did not exactly state the words “Yahapalanaya”. It said Maithri Palanayak, Sthavara Ratak. But all these words were supposed to be equal to Yahapalanayak.

Of course we see that Maithripala is in the driving seat doing a Maithripala Sirisena Palanaya, but citizens are not sure about Sthavara Ratak nor a real Maithri Palanayak. That is a Palanaya with loving kindness.

Why are citizens not assured about a Sthavara Ratak? The same bad eggs are going half a circle and sitting on this side, in very influential positions. These eggs or rather airheads only have had a little exertion, dancing the polka. The polka being to stay at home, give in their letters of resignation, get someone influential to write to the new loving President, then get their resignations withdrawn, then they trot back doing the waltz this time to the same position, to make yet another mess or to be non starters. This dance supposedly has gone on with the Authority that protects the little ones. In the same direction is a very handsome Minister of Lessons. Citizens wonder why this handsome boy has been allotted a post as important as that of “Lessons”. Who is he? What does he do? What has he done to get this make or break portfolio so important to future generations?

Another reason why citizens are not confident about Sthavara Ratak is the fact that the bad deeds that happened with the Henchaiyas of the previous regime, seem to be happening again. Take sand mining for example. Bribes are taken again to allow sand mining. Only the colour of the politics of the bribe taker has changed. In some areas supporters of the largest party in the Podu Wedikawa are wreaking vengeance on those seated on the opposite pila this time. Does this augur well for a Sthavara Ratak?

Should citizens only be satisfied that the Maithri Motocade stopped at a pedestrian crossing in the high land? And it had ONLY six vehicles?

11 days of the 100 days have passed and most of all, right thinking citizens are worried at the lack of access to relate these wrongdoings to those whom they supported. Those whom they supported are seated on big chairs, behind big tables and the eyes of these BIG ones do not now see beyond the big table as they are all very BUSY.

Sri Lanka's new premier promises Tamils 

more autonomy 

Tue, January 20 2015

Sri Lanka's new government pledged Tuesday to devolve power to the country's Tamil minority, in a step towards national reconciliation six years after a controversial military offensive crushed a separatist rebellion.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his first address to parliament since taking office, said lawmakers needed to bring a political conclusion to the conflict between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels that ended in 2009.

Critics say the previous regime failed to deal with the ethnic divisions that led to conflict on the island, whose Sinhalese majority has traditionally dominated positions of power.

Wickremesinghe said his government would revive a 1987 constitutional amendment that promised a de facto federal arrangement for the island's Tamil-dominated northern and eastern regions.

"We will implement the 13th amendment within a unitary state," said Wickremesinghe.

Successive governments failed to implement the controversial 13th amendment due to pressure from the Sinhalese population, who saw it as a sell-out to the minority community.

The country's main Tamil political party, the Tamil National Alliance, has distanced itself from demands for a separate homeland and said it accepts power-sharing.

Sri Lanka's former president, Mahinda Rajapakse, was a hard-line Sinhala nationalist who came to power in 2005 promising an "honorable peace" with Tamil rebels, but ended up fighting against them.

Rajapakse ordered a no-holds-barred military offensive that ended the 37-year-old separatist war, but his forces were subsequently accused of killing up to 40,000 Tamil civilians -- a charge he has denied.

Wickremesinghe told parliament during its first session since the Jan. 8 presidential election that he hoped to push through several pieces of legislation to make key institutions independent.

He said the government would establish independent commissions to run the police, the public service, the judiciary and the elections department.

A right to information act will also be passed and many of the executive powers currently held by the president will be transferred to parliament, in line with new President Maithripala Sirisena's election pledge.

The current parliament is due to be dissolved by April, clearing the way for a fresh election. (+++++)

- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/01/20/sri-lankas-new-premier-promises-tamils-more-autonomy.html#sthash.2bJmwxvK.dpuf

In Defence Of MIA

By TU Senan -January 20, 2015 

TU Senan

This is the second time I am writing to ‘defend’ MIA. The first time was in 2009. When she spoke out against the war, instead of getting a warm welcome as a major public figure using their fame to bring attention to the plight of Tamils, she received a rebuke. A Tamil ‘economist’ based in Sri Lanka decided to give her a ‘maths lesson’. Apparently she didn’t understand numbers – according to him she exaggerated the number of people being killed! That same ‘economist’ had claimed (in a meeting in 2008 as I recall) that the world economic crisis was nothing and would pass quickly – that’s another story. I had to defend MIA then because like many Tamils I felt powerless and forced to watch in silence when ‘millions of Tamils were being killed’.

Maya

It feels like every time MIA speaks out against the Sri Lankan government, people volunteer to correct her. They advise her to stick to ‘what she does best’ and avoid politics or they attack her as an ignorant maniac. What makes these people uncomfortable is what makes me and others want to defend her. Sure, many of us could do a ‘decent’ in-depth political commentary – and then be forced to sit on it forever. How many media outlets are out there which would publish the views of the oppressed sections in society? (Hats off to Colombo Telegraph on this). This is why at times we do seek ‘celebrity endorsement’. Accusations that millionaire Russell Brand is only trying to make more money out of talking ‘radicalism’ or that MIA’s trying to boost her own ratings do not concern us. Instead it is what these celebrities say, what side they take, and the audience they bring to such matters that is most important. If we argued they were a substitute for mass action that would be another matter. We don’t. It’s worth noting that those who don’t hesitate to criticise MIA are not arguing for any strategy for the fightback.Read More

Sri Lanka Looks to IMF for Help as Debt Burden Climbs

hoRavi Karunanayake, Sri Lanka's Finance Minister.

By Asantha Sirimanne and Anusha Ondaatjie  Jan 20, 2015 

Sri Lanka’s two-week-old government plans to start discussions with theInternational Monetary Fund on reducing a debt burden that grew under the previous administration, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.

Sri Lanka Looks to IMF for Help as Debt Burden Climbs by Thavam Ratna

Sri Lanka bans top judge from conference over coup claim

Mohan Peiris and the former president, Mahinda Rajapakse

January 19, 2015 

COLOMBO--Sri Lanka's attorney general barred the country's chief justice from attending a regional conference on Monday after allegations he tried to help the former president retain power illegally.

Chief Justice Mohan Peiris is under growing pressure to stand down after he was implicated in an alleged coup attempt by former president Mahinda Rajapakse, who lost power in an election earlier this month.

Sri Lanka's bar association had threatened to boycott the Conference of Attorneys General, held in Colombo on Monday, if he attended.

"We have a written confirmation from the AG (attorney general) that the chief justice (Peiris) was de-invited," the head of the bar association Upul Jayasuriya told AFP.

"We said we will walk out if Mohan Peiris is present, and that would have been a big embarrassment."

Rajapakse appointed Peiris after impeaching the previous chief justice Shirani Bandaranayake when her rulings went against his administration.

New President Maithripala Sirisena, who was sworn in on January 9, has vowed to restore Bandaranayake to the role.

Police have opened a criminal investigation into claims that the defeated strongman Rajapakse tried to use military force to stay in power.

There was no immediate comment from the chief justice, who was with the president as the elections results began to emerge and is accused of trying to legitimise a state of emergency.

Rs 619 Million Public Funds Fraud Case Against De Facto CJ Filed Today

January 20, 2015

A corruption complaint against De Facto Chief Justice Mohan Pieris has been filed today.

In this case the petitioner challenge the alleged dishonesty and gross misconduct of the de facto Chief Justice Mohan Pieris, (then Attorney General) who had abuse his office to facilitate misappropriation 619 million rupees of public funds by the Colombo Dockyard Ltd.

De facto Chief Justice Mohan Pieris

“This is a formal complaint of a criminal offence of Corruption, causing a colossal loss of government revenue of over 619 million rupees, committed by the person now holding the Office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, Mr Mohan Pieris.” says the complainant Nagananda Kodituwakku.

It is alleged that Mohan Pieris as the AG deliberately deceived the Supreme Court and the Director General of Customs (DGC) and withdrew a case (SC/SLA/100/2009 filed against the Colombo Dockyard Ltd by the Director General of Custom on 30^st August 2010, against the specific instructions given by the DGC to proceed with the Court action, considering the massive revenue loss incurred by the government. However the AG had defied the DGC’s instructions and withdrawn the case, permitting the Colombo Dockyard Ltd to evade penal sanctions under the Customs Law for wilful misappropriation of public funds collected for disposal of 21 marine crafts (manufactured with tax-free law material) sold unlawfully without the permission of the DGC.

In the complaint Mohan Pieris is accused that he held a conference at the AG’s office attended by the DGC before the case was withdrawn, where he had informed the DGC that he would defend the case. It is further stated that having deliberately acted against the written instructions of the DGC and caused a huge loss of revenue, the AG, in order to cover-up his fraudulent act ‘hand-delivered’ a letter to the DGC on 31^st Aug 2010, with a false date printed in it to read as 26^th August 2010.Read More

The Rs. 4 Billion Computer Scam!

By Nirmala Kannangara

 Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Mahindodaya Technological Lab concept to provide technological labs for 1,000 secondary schools in the country has become yet another money spinning machine for those who are allegedly close to the former first family, The Sunday Leader learns.

Although, the previous regime boosted to have introduced computer labs to secondary schools in the country as a concept of the then President, it has now come to light as to how Hambantota District UPFA Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa was allegedly fully involved in the tender procedure to get the tender awarded to one of his close associates who has provided jobs for his party loyalists in Hambantota.

“In mid 2013, tenders were called to supply, delivery, installation, networking, commissioning and maintenance of computers and accessories for Mahindodaya Technological labs under the 1,000 secondary school development programme.

However cancelling the first tender notice, the education Ministry once again called for tenders from prospective bidders with domestic preference to which the major vendors in the business did not send quotations other than three parties, E.W. Information Systems Limited (E-WIS), Abans Limited and yet another insignificant company that has an affiliation with the E.W. Information Systems Limited,” Education Ministry sources said.

Bidding document that says only 25% of the total contract can be extended based on the same order – Copy and Ministry of finace circular to consider domestic preference for bidders

When Education Ministry officials inquired as to why the first tender notification was cancelled and a fresh tender was called with new regulations, Ministry Secretary and other higher officials had stated that they could not trust the first technical evaluation committee (TEC) and had to appoint another TEC by appointing the members who could be controlled allegedly by the Ministry Secretary, MPs Namal Rajapaksa and Sajin Vass Gunawardena.

“Although there are many major companies that could send their quotations, most of them did not take part in the bid because Education Ministry wanted domestic preference at the time of the bid evaluation. This has been enforced by the Treasury Secretary in a circular dated January 2, 2013,” the sources added.

As a result , E.W. Information Systems (E-WIS) Limited, who sent the lowest prices, was awarded the tender to supply, delivery, installation, networking, commissioning and maintenance of computers and accessories for 100 Mahindodaya Technological labs in the country.

“The vendor had to supply 6,600 personal computer systems, 6,600 UPSs, 400 printers, 100 scanners, 85 laptop computers and network cabling for 100 schools and power cabling for the schools,” sources said.

According to the sources, although there was nothing wrong in awarding the tender to E.W. Information system it is questionable as to why the Education Ministry kept on giving the same company the contract to supply computers and other required equipments to 700 more schools without calling tenders.  “We do not have any issue of awarding this tender to the prospective lowest bidder but the question is, how the Education Ministry could give the same company the contract to provide computers and other equipments for another700 schools on four other occasions without calling for tenders,” sources alleged.

According to the sources, the most critical issue in the procurement is that E-WIS was awarded the same contract on three separate occasions to provide personal computer systems, UPSs, printers, scanners, laptop computers and network cabling and power cabling for 300 schools said to be based on a cabinet approval and for the fourth time E-WIS was once again given the opportunity to supply the same equipment for 400 schools at one occasion.

“This is totally against the government procedure and according to the tender published by Ministry of Education, only 25% of the total contract can be extended based on the same order. According to the award of contract, at the time contract is awarded, the purchaser reserves the right to increase or decrease the quantity of goods and related services originally specified in section V, schedule of requirements, provided this does not exceed twenty five percent (25%) or one unit whichever is higher and without any change in the unit prices or other terms and conditions of the bid and the biding documents,” sources alleged.

The sources alleged how unfair it was to give the contract to the same company over and over without calling for tenders and added that it was done to ensure that MP Namal Rajapaksa’s confidant the owner of the E-WIS is benefitting from the Mahindodaya Technological Lab concept.

“The initial bid value to supply, deliver and install the computers for 100 schools was Rs.708 million. When the same contract was given on three separate occasions for hundred schools each and when the fourth contract was given for 400 schools at once, the contract amount E-WIS obtained Rs.4,956 million. If the Education Ministry called for tenders and was offered this tender to this company, we do not have any issue but since politics entered and prevented any other party to get the contract, the Education Ministry officials are highly concerned,” sources claimed.

With the dawn of a new regime, and those who were involved in money making through tender benders are no more in power, the Education Ministry officials are waiting to take up the issue with the newly appointed Education Minister and his officers to stop bribery and corruption that was taking place in the ministry.

Ex-Sri Lanka leader’s brother accused of killing editor

By AFP- 18 January 2015

Sri Lankan authorities are investigating a claim that the toppled president’s younger brother ran a “death squad” and ordered a high-profile newspaper editor’s assassination, a police spokesman said Sunday.

Former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse ordered the hit on Lasantha Wickrematunga in January 2009, ex-public relations minister Mervyn Silva alleged in a formal complaint lodged with police Saturday, the spokesman said.

Wickrematunga was fatally shot in 2009, just days before he was due to testify in a defamation case Rajapakse had filed against his paper, which had been highly critical of the then-ruling family.

Then Sri Lanka’s defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, speaks to reporters in Colombo, on January 24, 2013 ©Ishara S.Kodikara (AFP/File)

"We have received a complaint that Gotabhaya Rajapakse was responsible for abductions, assaults and murder," police spokesman Ajith Rohana told AFP. "Three murders have been mentioned and one is that of Lasantha Wickrematunga. He (Rajapakse) is accused of running a death squad."

Rajapakse could not be contacted for comment.

Wickrematunga and his Sunday Leader newspaper were vocal critics of Rajapakse’s administration, and had accused Gotabhaya of corruption over the purchase of second-hand aircraft and arms for the military.

At the time, the government denied it was behind Wickrematunga’s killing, but Saturday’s complaint reopens the unsolved murder case.

Since Mahinda Rajapakse’s defeat during January 8 presidential elections, complaints have flooded a Sri Lankan anti-graft commission alleging huge corruption by members of his administration.

The ex-leader himself faces allegations that he tried to use military force and remain in office when it became clear during the vote count that he was headed for a defeat.

Sri Lanka has faced international strictures over its dismal human rights record during the past decade, with rights groups accusing Rajapakse of silencing critics and dissidents.

In his complaint, Silva also said Gotabhaya was the “architect of white van abductions”.

Being “white-vanned” became synonymous with abductions in Sri Lanka after dozens of people were abducted in white vans, their dead bodies later dumped by the road.

The tactic was widely reported to be used by security forces against opponents during and after the island’s drawn-out Tamil separatist conflict, which ended in May 2009.

Scores of independent journalists and political dissidents are still living abroad in exile.

Rajapakse’s administration also faced allegations that his troops killed at least 40,000 Tamil civilians while crushing Tamil Tiger guerrillas in the final stages of the ethnic war.

The new government of Maithripala Sirisena has promised reparations and a domestic investigation into war time atrocities committed by security forces.

The SLTB Lost Rs. 140 Million ByTransporting People To Rajapaksa Rallies

20/01/2015  

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), based on credible information, reports that Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is facing an estimated loss of a staggering Rs. 140 million due to providing buses for the transportation of the general public to the rallies and meetings organized by the UPFA Presidential candidate former President Mahinda Rajapakse during the recently concluded Presidential election.

TISL have already written to the newly appointed Minister of Internal Transportation Ranjith Maddumabandara about this issue requesting him to obtain the due payments from the relevant parties urgently.

The SLTB currently has an operational fleet of 4600 buses and TISL have evidence that 2400, i.e. half of this fleet, was used for transportation purposes during the Presidential election campaign. On an average 500 to 600 buses were used to transport public to political meetings and on a few occasions as much as 1200 buses were used.

This arbitrary use of SLTB buses meant that the SLTB incurred a daily loss between Rs. 6 to 8 million as was verified by SLTB depot heads. This amounts to a total estimated loss of Rs. 140 million of which only Rs. 25 million have been recovered by the SLTB.

Transparency International Sri Lanka wrote to the former Secretary to the Ministry of Transportation Dhammika Perera a number of times about this matter but to no avail. However due to the massive amount due to the SLTB and the serious nature of the misuse of public resources, TISL insists that the payments due be obtained from the relevant parties immediately.

Today Parliament; Probes On Corruption Will Continue As Planned-None Will Be Spared

January 20, 2015

JHU MP Venerable Athuraliye Rathana thera today assured in parliament that the probes initiated on the bribery and corruption charges against members of the Rajapaksa regime will continue as planned.

Athureliya Rathana Thero

Rathana thera made this statement today in the parliament when it convened for the first time since the election of the new President.

“These investigations cannot be stopped by the Prime Minister, the cabinet or myself. We have already received over 30,000 complaints on corruption. If any of the responsible parties believe it is possible to get away from these crimes scott-free, they are dreaming. The people are watching and we have made a promise and we will see that it is made a reality,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghemaking the opening statement in the Parliament today said its a historical day in Sri Lanka and said despite the varying political views held by the convened MPs, everyone should collaborate and work together in order to overcome the economical and political crisis the country.

“There are local and international challenges that need to be overcome and to this end, let us all unite and work together and set an example for the future generations,” he said.

The new Opposition Leader MP Nimal Siripala de Silva who made a statement said they hold no reservations about supporting the 100-day program but added it is important for the government to consult the opinions of the Opposition when implementing the policies of the 100-day program.

JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said they would provide their fullest support for the constitutional amendment that would change the present Executive Presidential system.

3322 firearms are missing at BMICH armory- Police

January 20, 2015

The police confirmed, a short while ago, that the investigation teams found 151 firearms at the armory belonging to private security firm Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Limited (RALL) at the BMICH premises, however, said they have no records what happened to some 3322 firearms stored at the arms depot.

According to the police media, they have records of some 3473 firearms which had been registered with the ministry; however, the teams have recovered 151 guns from the armory, following this morning’s inquiry.

Registered firearms’ record-

01. - T- 56 - 2300 

02. - 84-S - 670 

03. - LMG - 385 

04. - MPMG - 10 

05. - SLR - 11 

08. - Pistols - 08

09. - 12 Bore guns- 79

11. – Shot guns- 10

Total. - 3473

Recovered firearms -

01. - T- 56 - 44 

02. - 84-S - 35 

03. - LMG - 32 

04. - MPMG - 1 

05. - SLR - - 

08. – Pistol -0 

09. - 12 Bore guns- 29

11. – Shot guns- 10

Total - 151 

“However, the security firm claims that the rest of 3322 firearms have been given for its sub security firms. The police investigations are still underway,” a police officer said.

The police opened the armory belonging to private the security firm, this morning, following a court order issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate, Gihan Pilpitiya.

The Police Spokesman’s Office said that the armory where a large number of automatic rifles and other firearms have been stored was opened by police this morning and that investigations are ongoing.

Police are investigating whether the armory contains any illegal firearms and if proper approval has been obtained to store weapons at the location.
Rakna Lanka is listed as a state security arm which provides protection to several state entities.