(Lanka-e-News- 01.Feb.2015, 11.55PM) Following the most controversial and shocking exposures pertaining to Rathna security Lanka and Avant Garde maritime security service which are affiliated to the clandestine paramilitary service of Gotabaya Rajapakse , it has come to light that they are all linked to illicit weapon deals blatantly violating the accepted maritime trade norms of maritime ocean conservation services, based on reports reaching Lanka e news.
Let us hope at this stage in spite of the odds mounting against a transparent investigation in the best interests of the people and the security of the country , the new government in which great hopes are reposed by the nation will conduct an exhaustive impartial investigation into this massive arms scam, for the entire nation made great sacrifices to get rid of a most corrupt crooked regime ever governed this country in Sri Lanka ‘s entire history, and which was until the defeat at the recent elections was considered as undefeatable Democratically.
It is most unfortunate while the whole nation is earnestly anticipating a thorough investigation with a view to nabbing the culprits no matter how high and mighty they are , going by those deployed to probe this scam , (a majority of whom are pro Rajapakse lackeys and lickspittles ) it is doubtful whether the desired results will be achieved or the culprits will be duly netted.
While we hope the new defense minister Maithripala Sirisena and the deputy defense minister Ruwan Wijewardena will seriously focus their attention on this most perilous situation jeopardizing country’s security involving a monumental illicit weapons smuggling operation , we shall also on our part continue with revealing the details on these most deadly ,dangerous anti national activities.
All those who were engaged in the affairs of Avant maritime ocean conservation operations , including the members of the present forces as well as those who have gone on retirement are allegedly in this huge weapon scam which was kept secret from the nation until it was discovered by accident now.
It is imperative that those who are engaged in ocean security service have an international Ship and Port Security certificate (ISPS) or a ship security officer’s certificate (SSO) acceptable to the International ocean organization of which SL is a member.
Even today , to those who are serving in foreign and local vessels , such certificates and licenses are mandatory. However based on information reaching us ,the Directors of Avant maritime Co. or those foreigners working in it do not possess those certificates or licenses.
Nowhere in the world , SL not excluded , the experience gained while working in the navy was ever considered as a qualification of suitability for employment in merchant cargo ships .A confirmation in this regard can be obtained by inquiring from the office of the naval Director.
It is a universally acknowledged truth that no enterprise will employ workers who are not competent or qualified unless the motive of the company is to employ such workers in furtherance of deceptive and / or fraudulent motives , and not for any legitimate business. Obviously therefore these services too as we had highlighted in our many reports previously has not been engaged in legitimate business , and have been engaged in arms deals for and on behalf of terrorists and arms supplies. The evidence that have surfaced so far alone bear absolute testimony to this.
Based on an investigation into the foreign trips embarked on by the directors of Avant maritime Co., it has become evident that they have been travelling to and from countries like Myanmar , Somalia, Erythrea, Sudan , Mozambique, Seychelles, Kenya, Benin,Mauritius, Tanzania, Chad, Nigeria and Togo.
Intriguingly however , many of these countries do not border the sea or even possess a ship, but all of them have one common characteristic , that is in those countries there is terrorism or terrorist groups .
Interestingly , to make a long story short Benin does not have even a single ship, Somalia has one ship, Mozambique has two ships registered, which belong to Belgium. The armed terrorists are in large numbers in them.
The favorite sites and haunts of the illicit arms dealers of Avant maritime Co. have been these countries .--
Another most crucial and vital question that has sprung up in the circumstances is : what is the negotiation a former naval commander Admiral who is not even in the service now is having between the forces and the foreign countries ? Such discussions ought not take place .
Based on reports reaching us , according to a most reliable source providing us with the information , in this illicit smuggling of weapons , the intermediary who collects weapons from Ukraine is the brother in law of Mahinda Rajapakse .His name is Udayanga Weeratunge , the SL ambassador to Russia .
Previously , the inside information division of Lanka e news exposed that when a consignment of weapons were brought in by Udaya by flight , a fleet of security vehicles of Gotabaya arrived at Katunayake airport , and carried away the contraband disdainfully disregarding the laws , sans any documents , and not even caring to make a record anywhere .It is reported that there were sniper guns among them.
In addition , the Avant Garde maritime smugglers have purchased heroin from Pakistan and Myanmar , and have engaged in money laundering in Seychelles after collecting the proceeds of the sales .It is also learnt that Admiral Ilangakoon had toured Seychelles several times a year in this connection.
The Avant maritime Co. that had amassed billions and billions of rupees via heroin and weapon deals was paying a sum of Rs. 1 million per month as salary to each of its Directors. However , during the recent investigations , it was claimed by the Co. that for the last two /three years the profit made was only Rs.3 million . Is that claim believable ? when the Avant maritime security service levies a fee of US dollars 12000.00 from every merchant cargo ship per day to permit it to pass the Somalia red sea territorial waters.
It takes a minimum of 7 days for a ship to cross that danger zone , which means that US dollars 84000.00 is charged for 7 days. These monies are deposited in US dollars in a bank account in a foreign country. Yet the Avant maritime Co. has the audacity to utter this shameless lie that its earning was only Rs. 3 million during the last two /three years. Shouldn’t this statement be probed deeply ?
To Gotabaya and Avant maritime Co. , KP a former LTTE arms procurement leader is a most valuable asset, for KP has close ties with arms smugglers and heroin magnates ,which he has built up in the past . Besides , smuggling these contraband via the ship registered in the name of KP is most easy .
This ship in the name of KP is registered in Honduras and Myanmar, and a majority of those employed in that ship are LTTE activists . There are also employees in the ship who have come from countries like Ukraine while some others are excellent trained snipers , according to most reliable sources.
On top of all these dastardly and traitorous activities Avant Maritime Co. when employing foreign hired workers , has also grossly violated most uncaringly all laws governing their recruitment into local service .
Some time ago ,one such worker was involved in a brawl with a local group in a hotel at Unawatuna while under the influence of liquor. When he was arrested by the police he had boasted that he is associated with defense secretary (then) Gotabaya Rajapakse . After confirming his statement , the police OIC had released him at once following instructions by phone coming from the top.
Whether it is Thilak Marapone or any other or together , if they are attempting to suppress or justify these most deadly and dangerous smuggling operations in arms and drugs , tantamount to the most heinous crime of treason , such individuals who are trying to conceal the truth being considered as aiding and abetting the terrorists of the world and themselves as traitors is certainly not wrong. (In the photograph are Somathileke Dissanayake , the brother of Rupavahini chairman Somarathne Dissanayake and Admiral Ilangakoon)
(To be continued)
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by A Lanka e news special reporter (2015-02-02 01:02:34)
February 2, 2015