By Shamindra Ferdinando

Democratic Party Leader and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday emphasised that Minister of Law and Order and Prison Reforms Tilak Marapana and Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, should be held responsible for undermining ongoing investigations into questionable operations undertaken by Avant Garde Maritime Services.

Field Marshal Fonseka said as President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had devolved powers to respective ministers, in this instance, Marapana and Rajapakshe they were accountable. The DP leader was responding to a query by The Island at a special media briefing called by the party at its new main office at Pelawatte, Battaramulla.

The Sinha Regiment veteran asserted that the position taken by Marapana and Rajapakshe couldn’t be justified under any circumstances. The DP leader alleged that the stand take by a section of the government had severely hampered the ongoing probe.

Expressing serious concern over the failure on the part of the coalition government to prosecute those who had been involved in questionable transactions with Avant Garde Maritime Services, Field Marshal Fonseka strongly criticised the Attorney General’s Department stand on the issue.

Referring to an interview given by Solicitor General Suhada Gamlath on Rupavahini, the former Army Chief alleged that the Attorney General’s Department was obviously siding with the firm under a cloud.

Field Marshal Fonseka also identified Galle District MP and Public Administration Minister Vajira Abeywardena as another ruling party politician involved with the influential security organisation. The DP chief levelled a series of allegations against Ministers Rajapakshe and Abeywardena.

The DP leader called for the immediate arrest of retired Major Nissanka Senadhipathy, the head of the controversial organisation.

Senadhipathy had been a member of the Army Commando Regiment before entering the business field.

The former presidential candidate alleged that members of the government had been working overtime to shield the Avant Garde boss.

The handling of the Avant Garde investigation was certainly not in line with international standards. The DP leader pointed out that the firm had brazenly carried weapons across international waters and engaged in clandestine activities inimical to national security interests.

He urged Minister Marapana to name those police officers who had cooked up a case against Avant Garde to please their new masters without further delay. Now that Minister Marapana had faulted the police in no uncertain terms, the former Attorney General should take punitive action against all those responsible, he said.

Field Marshal Fonseka demanded action against those who had authorised the Avant Garde operation, particular the lucrative business in international maritime security services. He alleged that an influential section of the present government was closely working with those who had been helm of the Avant Garde project.

Field Marshal, who fell out with the previous regime, claimed that at the behest of the Defence Ministry, Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Pvt Ltd had paved the way for the Avant Garde taking over the business.

Avant Garde as well as Rakna Arakshaka Lanka is under investigation by multiple agencies including a Special Presidential Commission based at the BMICH.

The DP leader said that the Avant Garde had been allowed to operate with impunity due to political patronage. The former Army Chief also alleged that the Avant Garde with the blessings of the Defence Ministry had provided weapons training to foreigners at a security forces base in Sri Lanka.

Field Marshal Fonseka said that such a course of action posed a severe danger to Sri Lanka. The DP leader said that the previous government owed an explanation to the people and the present administration shouldn’t shy away from its duty to conduct a thorough investigation into the Avant Garde affair.

The floating armoury issue was something the ruling coalition could ignore after having come to power promising to put an end to waste, corruption and irregularities, Fonseka said.

The government couldn’t ignore the fact that several former navy chiefs as well as other senior officers had benefited from the Avant Garde, Fonseka said, calling for a full scale investigation into the security firm and those who had benefited from it.

Courtesy:The Island