By Lalith Ruhunuge and K.A.S. Kumara
The news on the discovery of a floating armoury at the Galle Port spread like lightening. Police launched investigations following information received by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Southern Range, D. J. S. Gunawardhana. The armoury belonged to a private security company by the name Avant-garde. A total of 3,154 firearms and 770,059 rounds of ammunition were recovered from seven containers on the ship named Mahanuwara .
Meanwhile, the Galle Magistrate, Nilupuli Lankapura, issued search warrants to the Harbour Police to check three armouries, maintained by a private security company named ‘Rakna Lanka’, at the Dakshina Navy Camp in Galle. The Magistrate also ordered the Navy to provide security until those three armouries were searched. She ordered police to submit the report to Court on 19 March.
It is believed that more than 100 firearms, of diverse kinds, were in those three armouries. Police say that the armouries are maintained with permission from the Ministry of Defense. The investigation report will provide information, such as permission, license, taxes, source of weapons and audit details. It is reported that these weapons have been purchased from the Army and Police when the outdated stocks were auctioned.
Avant-garde and Rakna Lanka are private security firms that provide security to ships against the Somali pirates. The companies were formed in 2012 to replace the foreign companies which ran these services. Their weapons were also stored in the armouries of the Sri Lanka Navy. The storage charges were paid directly to the Navy Commander. Reportedly, foreign companies have paid from US$10,000 to 50,000 for this.
Apparently, the Sri Lanka Navy has lost income due to the floating armoury maintained by Avant-garde. The ship is guarded by the Sri Lanka Navy and the shipping agents obtain the services of the Navy personnel when the foreign guards are transported to and from the harbour. The probe will reveal if the due charges are paid to Sri Lanka Navy for these services.
Also, there is an issue as to why the Sri Lanka Navy cannot establish such floating armouries and gain the income.Rakna Lanka provides armed-guards for ships against the pirates. These guards are retired Navy personnel.
Galle Harbour is a well known service hub for the ships that sail the East-West shipping route. About 200–250 ships sail this route which is 10-12 nautical miles off the Galle Port. Most of them are large merchant vessels, such as petroleum tankers and container carriers. A number of private services, that operate from the Galle Harbour, have dealings with these ships.
Their services include the supply of lubricants, food and beverage, fruit, spare parts, ropes and so on, in deep sea, off the harbour. The shift changes of the sailors also are carried out from here. Galle Harbour is the only such service or bunkering harbour in Sri Lanka and it is the first one beyond the Malacca Strait.
Since 2009, armed guards have been provided to secure the ships from Somali pirates. They board the ships or disembark in deep sea off the Galle Harbour and shipping agents transport them. At least three armed guards are provided to merchant ships for the security.
The Avant-garde private security company was established on 15 October, 2012. Three former Navy Commanders act as advisers to it. The ship belonged to a private company and Avant-garde had taken it on lease. The firearms belong to a foreign security companies and they are stored on this ship. Avant-garde charges for its services.
The company has two more such floating armouries, and one is situated in Pujara, close to Arabian Peninsula. The other one is in the Red Sea. These armouries have been established to guard the oil tankers, sailing the international shipping route, from the pirates. Sri Lanka Navy provides security when these ships arrive in the Galle Port.
“These ships have not delivered weapons anywhere,” former Navy Commander Somathilaka Disanayaka told the media.
A probe conducted by the Defense Ministry has found that these weapons are legally owned by foreign companies. However, these weapons were stored in the armouries in the Navy camp of Galle before the inception of the new private company in 2012.
“In fact, the services of providing security to ships to protect them from Somali pirates were started in 2009,” said shipping services sub agent Muditha Windsor. “Other services have been provided since then. This is a source of foreign income to the country. It has created many direct and indirect jobs. The number of shipping agents increased after the armed guard services were launched.
“The first such services were started by Wilhelson and Sri Lanka Shipping companies. They were launched as joint ventures with PVI and Goguard companies. The Ministry of Defense permitted these companies. First UK, US, Kenya, Philippine and Ukraine nationals were in the service. Later Sri Lankans, especially the retired seamen, of the Sri Lanka Navy, joined this service.
“Our company transports these guards to and from the ships. We must obtain the approval of the Ministry of Defense before the guards and the weapons are delivered. The weapons brought by the guards were stored in the Navy armoury. The Navy provides security for the transported guards. In 2009, US $ 25 was paid to store one machine gun. US $ 10 for a box of ammunition, $ 10 for body armour, $ 10 for radio and other military gear.
“Avant-garde Maritime Company took over in 2012. They leased a ship belonging to another company and established the floating armoury. It operated under the protection of Sri Lanka Navy. We transport armed guards of these companies to and from the ships. We transport 30-50 guards daily.”
Muditha Windsor argues that the establishment of the floating armoury by Avant-garde has not caused loss to Sri Lanka Navy.
The Navy cannot establish such a floating armoury according to international maritime law. Further, the charges for the protection of military gear have been increased after the establishment of the company. Therefore, I think that Navy has not lost income. The company settles our bills in time.”
However, the probe will reveal if Sri Lanka Navy has lost any such income due to the establishment of this company.
Courtesy:Ceylon Today