By Easwaran Rutnam As investigations continue into the operations of Avant Garde, the Ukrainian Captain of the ship, Gennadiy Gavrylov, remains stranded in Galle with his passport impounded and health condition fast deteriorating. Gavrylov cannot leave Galle as he needs to report to the police station every week and place his signature. He has been in Galle for four years after being arrested over the Avant Garde floating armoury controversy. Gavrylov told The Sunday Morning that he is still not clear on why he was arrested as he was only employed to captain the floating armoury and that he had no knowledge of what was taking place behind the scenes. The Ukrainian is now living in a small room provided by Sri Lanka Shipping Company Ltd. in Galle and is also paid Rs. 50,000 per month for food, clothing, and other essential items. Gavrylov was arrested in June 2016 in connection with the police investigation relating to the Sri Lankan-flagged vessel Avant Garde. The Ukrainian Captain was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and later remanded after being produced at the Galle Magistrate’s Court. The CID arrested him on the allegation of illegally importing firearms to Sri Lanka and the illegal possession of firearms and explosives. The MV Avant Garde was found to contain 549 T-56 weapons, 264 84-S weapons, and 204,674 bullets during an inspection conducted on 6 October 2015, while docked at the Galle Port. Gavrylov was released on bail in March 2017 under strict conditions which included preventing him from leaving the country. “I have not seen my family for four years. My mother is very sick and so is my mother-in-law. So my wife is taking care of them both. I have two sons and have not seen them either. My health is also deteriorating,” Gavrylov said. Gavrylov says his health condition has been deteriorating as he has heart complications and was also admitted to hospital last week for dengue. “The authorities are not letting me go, saying they need more time to conclude the investigations. It has been four years and they keep saying they need more time. I don’t know how much more time they need,” he said. Gavrylov says he assisted in the investigations by revealing all he knows, but was yet being kept in Sri Lanka on the basis that investigations were ongoing. Ship detained in international waters “I was with this local company for only two months. When the ship was ordered to return to Sri Lanka while it was in the Red Sea, I brought the ship, and it was anchored in international waters off Galle when it was seized by the Sri Lankan authorities,” he said. Gavrylov also contacted the Embassy of Ukraine in India to seek assistance as Ukraine does not have an Embassy in Sri Lanka, but they refused to help him as a criminal investigation is underway over the operations of Avant Garde. The 52-year-old has to appear again in court on 23 July for the case, but he says he has little confidence about being allowed to return home anytime soon. Last week, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) called on the Government to immediately release Gavrylov and allow him to return to his home in Ukraine. “For over three years, Gennadiy Gavrylov has been stranded in Sri Lanka, desperate to go home, while Sri Lankan authorities refuse to grant him permission to leave the country,” said ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton. “He is a victim of criminalisation, and his continued detention is nothing short of a severe breach of his human rights. “No seafarer, no family, should have to go through the experience that Gennadiy is going through. Over the past three years of detention, Captain Gavrylov has been restricted from contacting his family, prevented from leaving Sri Lanka, and prevented from earning a living. “His health is suffering, he desperately needs life-saving heart surgery, and his family is left languishing without his wage to support them,” said Cotton. I am prepared to reveal all: Senadhipathi Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi said he was prepared to reveal sensitive information which he withheld earlier in the best interest of the country. [caption id="attachment_38521" align="alignleft" width="300"] Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi[/caption] Senadhipathi told The Sunday Morning that a witch-hunt has been launched against him purely for political reasons. He said that he has proven, without a doubt, that his company brought profits to the Ministry of Defence by operating the floating armoury. Senadhipathi further noted that President Maithripala Sirisena also chaired a meeting with him and other officials this year where operations carried out by Avant Garde were discussed. “The President was briefed at that meeting on how much earnings we brought to Sri Lanka and why we must be allowed to continue our operations,” he said. The Ministry of Defence, under former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, had later approved a request put forward by Avant Garde to continue to supply sea marshals with weapons for fishing vessels. Avant Garde had reached an agreement with RALL to supply sea marshals with weapons for fishing vessels, but the agreement lapsed in January this year. Hemasiri Fernando approved a request to continue the agreement for six months, with effect from March this year. Senadhipathi also requested the then Defence Secretary to consider reinstating the Galle weapons storage facility to Avant Garde Maritime Services Ltd. The Ministry of Defence had later requested Senadhipathi to appear before a committee to clarify details regarding the request. Senadhipathi had also been requested to submit annual audit reports since 2012, certified by the company’s auditors. The Chairman of Avant Garde Maritime Services Ltd. had been asked to be present before the committee on 10 July. However, he failed to appear as he was overseas. Senadhipathi told The Sunday Morning that he is fully aware that he will be arrested when he returns to Sri Lanka. However, he said that before his return, he will reveal a lot of sensitive information so the public would be aware of the benefits Avant Garde Maritime Services Ltd. has brought to Sri Lanka.