• Committee says Government lost substantial funds

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) stated it would lodge complaints with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the move to bring Avant Garde into the maritime security services being carried out by Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Limited, together with the Sri Lanka Navy.

COPE Chairman Dr Nishantha Samaraweera said the Government had lost a substantial amount of money as a result of bringing the private company Avant Garde into the maritime security operations.

Officials of Rakna Arakshaka Lanka were recently summoned before COPE, where the committee Chairman questioned them about the decision to bring Avant Garde into the maritime security operations.

COPE member MP Dayasiri Jayasekara also questioned whose requirement had led to the decision to enter into an agreement to bring Avant Garde into the maritime security operations.

Dr Samaraweera further said steps would be taken to examine the possibility of cancelling all agreements involving the company and recovering the losses suffered by the Government as a result. He also said action would be taken under the law against all those who assisted the company in the process.