Voters came to the correct conclusion in punishing the most corrupt.
But corruption doesn't end there. The corruption debate must continue to put pressure on the government to have its controls in place to stop corruption, for good governance and transparency.
Not only politicians but also officials must be subjected to these controls.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Bandit King Chadralal Joins Bandit Queen Chandrika
The Chandralal-Chandrika union was predicted by voters more than a month ago.
Read part -1 here – http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2009/12/21/bandit-queen-chandrika-joins-bandit-king-chandralal/
UK resident Bandit Queen Chandrika has come back to where she made her billions – poor third world country Sri Lanka. So has the US resident Bandit King Chadralal. He has come back to where he earned his billions. Now the grand marriage of the Bandit Queen Chandrika to the Bandit King Chandralal is scheduled to take place.
However, voters with foresight foretold the scheduled marriage months before. They now perfectly understand the modus operandi of both bandits.
In a way it is a sure give away of their common intention of plundering the country by the name of ending corruption. In 1994, Chandrika’s election slogan was to end corruption. Chandralal has borrowed it 15 years later. However, what happened was the exact opposite. People consider Chandrika to be the most corrupt leader ever. The next slogan was to sell bread at Rs 3.50. However within months the bread price went up as never before. Chandralal is using the same dreaded lies to fool the people once again.
While Chandralal sees this as an opportunity to grab hold of the country, Chandrika is after the SLFP. For Chandrika, the SLFP is the tool that enabled her to come to power, build a palace in the UK and the only way her son can be pushed into politics. Soon Vimukthi Kumaratunga will be in politics and soon the third generation will make use of the SLFP. Ironically they still complain about nepotism! Nepotism doesn’t get any worse than this.
Chandralal is no stranger to nepotism. He runs a weapons trading company by the name HICORP with his son-in-law even before they became in-laws.
Apart from deception, corruption and nepotism, the other similarity that binds them together is the character. There are strong allegations of immoral conduct against both of them.
Voters must make a note of the reasons for their alliance.
Corruption that killed own soldiers
It is up to a competent court to convict a wrongdoer and it is not the intention of this series of articles to call anyone corrupt and make decisions. Instead what is intended is to shed some light based on third party generated, non-political evidence, widely available to readers, on possible corruption and collusion in military purchases. This evidence is not the creation of any interested party trying to defame anyone. In fact it has been created in most instances by the actors themselves! That means the accuracy, objectivity and relevance of these pieces of evidence remain very high.
Most of these fraudulent purchases that didn’t go through the proper channels of government owned Lanka Logistics, were returned subsequently for poor quality. This is a classic case of massive fraud in defence purchases. The reason for limited leeway given to tri-forces commanders in purchasing was to take responsibility for their requirements. Clearly Fonseka didn’t do a good job due to wide spread corruption in contracting directly with suppliers.
This is clear and indisputable proof of malpractices by a top General.
"Sri Lanka has also requested $25 million worth of 81 mm, 120 mm and 130 mm mortar ammunition to be delivered within a month, the sources told IANS.
General Sarath Fonseka, the Sri Lankan army chief who spent six days in India last month, has conveyed the requirements to his Pakistani counterpart, General Ashraf Pervez Kayani, said the sources.
The Pakistani military has apparently agreed to supply the ammunition on an emergency basis from its War Wastage Reserve maintained in various army depots."
This bypassed all the controls laid down by the Defence Secretary.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/sri-lankas-sos-to-pakistan-for-urgent-arms-supplies_10033531.html
However, time and time again these purchases proved defective. Along with these mortars (81mm) and artillery (120mm and 130mm) fuses were purchased. Fuse is an essential part of an artillery or mortar shell that is at the tip of the mortar/artillery. Defective fuses caused explosions in artillery stacks near howitzer guns killing own soldiers. On top of that this meant soldiers in the battlefield didn’t get fire support these shells were supposed to provide. That too killed our soldiers.
Clear evidence of defective fuses and other material that came via the short circuited purchasing procedure can be found in the following news item.
"The reports said a major problem faced by Sri Lankan forces was that of electronic fuses for bombs supplied by Pakistan.
Of the 500 fuses of types AB-103 and AB-104 supplied by Pakistan earlier, 200 were found faulty because of which Sri Lankan forces suffered huge reverses against the LTTE. Islamabad had agreed to take them back, the reports said."
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2007/2/12443.html
Now these individuals are gunning for power for obvious reasons of power and corruption. It is up to the people to defeat them and chase them away to where they belong - tax havens of the Caribbean where they have bought a mansion which they use as a hotel.
Most of these fraudulent purchases that didn’t go through the proper channels of government owned Lanka Logistics, were returned subsequently for poor quality. This is a classic case of massive fraud in defence purchases. The reason for limited leeway given to tri-forces commanders in purchasing was to take responsibility for their requirements. Clearly Fonseka didn’t do a good job due to wide spread corruption in contracting directly with suppliers.
This is clear and indisputable proof of malpractices by a top General.
"Sri Lanka has also requested $25 million worth of 81 mm, 120 mm and 130 mm mortar ammunition to be delivered within a month, the sources told IANS.
General Sarath Fonseka, the Sri Lankan army chief who spent six days in India last month, has conveyed the requirements to his Pakistani counterpart, General Ashraf Pervez Kayani, said the sources.
The Pakistani military has apparently agreed to supply the ammunition on an emergency basis from its War Wastage Reserve maintained in various army depots."
This bypassed all the controls laid down by the Defence Secretary.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/sri-lankas-sos-to-pakistan-for-urgent-arms-supplies_10033531.html
However, time and time again these purchases proved defective. Along with these mortars (81mm) and artillery (120mm and 130mm) fuses were purchased. Fuse is an essential part of an artillery or mortar shell that is at the tip of the mortar/artillery. Defective fuses caused explosions in artillery stacks near howitzer guns killing own soldiers. On top of that this meant soldiers in the battlefield didn’t get fire support these shells were supposed to provide. That too killed our soldiers.
Clear evidence of defective fuses and other material that came via the short circuited purchasing procedure can be found in the following news item.
"The reports said a major problem faced by Sri Lankan forces was that of electronic fuses for bombs supplied by Pakistan.
Of the 500 fuses of types AB-103 and AB-104 supplied by Pakistan earlier, 200 were found faulty because of which Sri Lankan forces suffered huge reverses against the LTTE. Islamabad had agreed to take them back, the reports said."
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2007/2/12443.html
Now these individuals are gunning for power for obvious reasons of power and corruption. It is up to the people to defeat them and chase them away to where they belong - tax havens of the Caribbean where they have bought a mansion which they use as a hotel.
Friday, January 22, 2010
What the Media Didn’t Say About the 30 Million Corrupt Campaign of Buying MPs
King of corruption is already at work. It was Friday the 15th January 2009. A historical solar eclipse engulfed the attention of the public. Darkness fell on earth and dark forces went into action. The generally corrupt candidate sent two of his corrupt henchmen on another major corrupt mission. They approached Mohommad Muzammil, MP and offered him Rs 30 million to cross over to the corrupt dictator’s side. On the same day they successfully baited a number of gullible into their camp. However, Muzammil, a man known to be vehemently honest among his friends and schoolmates, did the unthinkable. Not only he rejected the corrupt dictator’s advances, but also recorded what happened. His exceptional integrity and honesty was many times honoured at school. This level of honesty is unthinkable in the corrupt dictator’s camp. Government must ensure his security as he may well be in the hit list of the corrupt.
The corrupt dictator was caught pants down this time. Since there is a clear criminal act, none of the big lawyers of the UNP was willing to represent the case and a lesser known lawyer accepted the case. Fonseka camp went mad over the incident and a couple of JVP campaigners were seen to the public behaving in a state of utter confusion. May be out of conscience or may be out of madness, they said Rajapaksha is certainly going to win the election now.
Evidence of the corrupt dictator’s plan
On 15th January 2009, a media outlet well known for its support for corrupt arms deals carried the following news item. “........a JVP Muslim male MP.....”. There is only one Muslim male in the JVP parliamentary group and that is Hon Mohammad Muzammil. Here is the link. Also refer to picture-1 above. That was at 1:30 pm. By the evening of that day Hon Mohammad Muzammil went public with his case. Here is the link. http://www.lankaenews.com/Sinhala/news.php?id=11982
Clearly the motive and expectation of the corrupt dictator’s camp is visible from above evidence. They were waiting for Hon Mohammad Muzammil to join them and they were sure that he will join them.
The case is proceeding at the Bribery and Corruption Commission and also at court.
The money came from the LTTE!
LTTE sympathiser and financier Raj Rajaratnam sent US$3,000,000 to Ravi Karunanayake last year. This was before Raj was arrested in the USA for fraud and insider dealing. Central Bank of Sri Lanka is in the process of taking legal action against this illegal transfer that violated Sri Lankan exchange control laws. Here is the link.
http://www.nation.lk/2009/06/28/news22.htm
When a reasonable current exchange rate is applied to US$3,000,000 it converts to Rs 350,000,000. How many MPs can be purchased from Rs 350,000,000 if one MP costs Rs 30,000,000? Close to 11 (eleven) MPs can be purchased with money to spare.
This is the corrupt second operation of the traitors’ camp. It is financed by the LTTE while the LTTE has also promised to give free publicity to the corrupt candidate. LTTE’s mouthpiece – TamilNet – is working overtime these days trying hard to ensure the victory of the corrupt candidate.
How many MPs were purchased already? This will never be known as they fear for their lives to reveal details. But a close approximation can be made with the number of crossovers. Whether they received bribes or not must be determined by a competent court. The following MPs crossed over – Wijedasa Rajapaksha, Arjuna Ranatunga, Segu Issadin, Yogarajan, Satchithananthan, Sellasamy and another MP. On top of that they wasted another Rs 30,000,000 on Hon Mohammad Muzammil. It was also reported that they had tried to bait Ven Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero. Altogether it comes to nine (9) MPs. They have still money left for two (2) or three (3) MPs.
Therefore it should not surprise anyone if two or three more MPs crossover to the corrupt camp in the coming days.
Daily crossovers stopped after the expose
Readers’ attention is drawn to an astonishing fact that no one can dispute. After the expose, daily crossovers stopped! This is ample proof the corruption operation was brought to its senses by the brave expose by Hon Mohammad Muzammil.
It is up to the public to punish the corrupt and vote for the patriotic camp. The sham veil of cleanliness pretended by wolves in sheep’s clothing went flying last Friday, the day darkness fell on earth at daytime. Never allow the dark forces to drag Sri Lanka into darkness again.
While emphasising that it is only a competent court that can decide on this for certain, we draw the attention of readers to these indisputable facts surrounding this case.
http://www.youtube.com/user/lankacnews#p/u/0/D09SqapGRkM
The corrupt dictator was caught pants down this time. Since there is a clear criminal act, none of the big lawyers of the UNP was willing to represent the case and a lesser known lawyer accepted the case. Fonseka camp went mad over the incident and a couple of JVP campaigners were seen to the public behaving in a state of utter confusion. May be out of conscience or may be out of madness, they said Rajapaksha is certainly going to win the election now.
Evidence of the corrupt dictator’s plan
On 15th January 2009, a media outlet well known for its support for corrupt arms deals carried the following news item. “........a JVP Muslim male MP.....”. There is only one Muslim male in the JVP parliamentary group and that is Hon Mohammad Muzammil. Here is the link. Also refer to picture-1 above. That was at 1:30 pm. By the evening of that day Hon Mohammad Muzammil went public with his case. Here is the link. http://www.lankaenews.com/Sinhala/news.php?id=11982
Clearly the motive and expectation of the corrupt dictator’s camp is visible from above evidence. They were waiting for Hon Mohammad Muzammil to join them and they were sure that he will join them.
The case is proceeding at the Bribery and Corruption Commission and also at court.
The money came from the LTTE!
LTTE sympathiser and financier Raj Rajaratnam sent US$3,000,000 to Ravi Karunanayake last year. This was before Raj was arrested in the USA for fraud and insider dealing. Central Bank of Sri Lanka is in the process of taking legal action against this illegal transfer that violated Sri Lankan exchange control laws. Here is the link.
http://www.nation.lk/2009/06/28/news22.htm
When a reasonable current exchange rate is applied to US$3,000,000 it converts to Rs 350,000,000. How many MPs can be purchased from Rs 350,000,000 if one MP costs Rs 30,000,000? Close to 11 (eleven) MPs can be purchased with money to spare.
This is the corrupt second operation of the traitors’ camp. It is financed by the LTTE while the LTTE has also promised to give free publicity to the corrupt candidate. LTTE’s mouthpiece – TamilNet – is working overtime these days trying hard to ensure the victory of the corrupt candidate.
How many MPs were purchased already? This will never be known as they fear for their lives to reveal details. But a close approximation can be made with the number of crossovers. Whether they received bribes or not must be determined by a competent court. The following MPs crossed over – Wijedasa Rajapaksha, Arjuna Ranatunga, Segu Issadin, Yogarajan, Satchithananthan, Sellasamy and another MP. On top of that they wasted another Rs 30,000,000 on Hon Mohammad Muzammil. It was also reported that they had tried to bait Ven Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero. Altogether it comes to nine (9) MPs. They have still money left for two (2) or three (3) MPs.
Therefore it should not surprise anyone if two or three more MPs crossover to the corrupt camp in the coming days.
Daily crossovers stopped after the expose
Readers’ attention is drawn to an astonishing fact that no one can dispute. After the expose, daily crossovers stopped! This is ample proof the corruption operation was brought to its senses by the brave expose by Hon Mohammad Muzammil.
It is up to the public to punish the corrupt and vote for the patriotic camp. The sham veil of cleanliness pretended by wolves in sheep’s clothing went flying last Friday, the day darkness fell on earth at daytime. Never allow the dark forces to drag Sri Lanka into darkness again.
While emphasising that it is only a competent court that can decide on this for certain, we draw the attention of readers to these indisputable facts surrounding this case.
http://www.youtube.com/user/lankacnews#p/u/0/D09SqapGRkM
Saturday, January 16, 2010
How Fonseka Cleverly Planned to Continue War and Corruption
Fonseka planned to continue the war for a long time thereby earning every year from weapons sales made with his son-in-law Danuna and from deals made alone. In a well published interview with BBC in June 2008 he aired these views unashamedly. He said, "Even if we finish the war, capture the whole of the north, still the LTTE might have some members joining them," he said. “There are people who believe in Tamil nationalism. The LTTE might survive another even two decades with about 1,000 cadres. But we will not be fighting in the same manner. It might continue as an insurgency forever.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7481812.stm
This was not his prediction but expectation. However the government had other plans and the government’s plan succeeded in ridding the country of terrorists.
Fonseka knew that he was just a tool in the hands of the Defence Secretary in winning the war. And Fonseka knew the war is ending by May 11, 2009. Even laymen knew it! That was when he made one last ditch attempt to earn big money in an unprecedented way.
Entertaining purchasing officers to luxury is an old trick played by some traders. It is particularly common in the defence trade when third world countries are involved. Since Fonseka assumed the role of the purchasing officer, he and his family was entitled to spend a week in luxury at the Fujitsu Royal Hotel in China. Their trip started on May 11th and lasted till May 17th.
Room numbers 1620, 1630, 1620A, 1618, 1519, 1521, 1626, and 1628 were reserved for them. These rooms were for Sarath Fonseka, his wife Anoma Fonseka, his two daughters Apsara Tillakaratne and Aparna Fonseka, his son in law Danuna Tillakaratne, a major general and his wife, one Brigadier, two Lt Colonels, one Captain and one Lieutenant. This was the time the decisive battle for peace was fought in Mulaitivu. An army commander has no bigger joy than participate in the final battle. But not in the case of Fonseka. What was so important for Fonseka that he even neglected the final victorious battle and ran away from Sri Lanka?
During this long trip Fonseka and Danuna who owns a weapons buying and selling company, visited two main corporations specialised in selling weapons to third world countries. They are NORINCO and Poly Technologies. Sri Lanka army, navy, air force and the Ministry of Defence have been purchasing weapons from both these companies for a long time. For instance in April 2007 a classified purchased of US$37 million was made from these companies. However, in May 2009 things were going to get bigger!
This time the value of the purchase order was a staggering US$ 200 million which is higher than the total annual defence capital budget! This act also contravenes the gazette notification on 30 July 2007 prohibiting the purchase of many defence items by entities other than Ministry of Defence owned Lanka Logistics and Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. By the time the deal was done, the war has ended in Sri Lanka without Fonseka. Purchases made by Fonseka assumed the war to continue and now they were not required.
Defence Secretary had no choice than to ask Fonseka to cancel the order. It doesn’t feel right when you have benefited from the hospitality of a supplier with the promise of giving business and subsequently cancelling the order. What’s more embarrassing was that the Defence Secretary asked Fonseka to declare the cancellation himself. Reluctantly Fonseka cancelled the order in July 2009. It is the first time in the world an Army Commander cancelling military purchases. In other countries and in Sri Lanka before Fonseka assuming high office, the Army Commander and the Chief of Defence don’t get involved in purchasing. Purchasing includes cancelling purchase orders.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL487424.htm
Now Fonseka is trying to release hardcore LTTE terrorists are restart the war so that more and more weapons will be needed. When it comes to purchasing weapons he and his family will benefit immensely.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7481812.stm
This was not his prediction but expectation. However the government had other plans and the government’s plan succeeded in ridding the country of terrorists.
Fonseka knew that he was just a tool in the hands of the Defence Secretary in winning the war. And Fonseka knew the war is ending by May 11, 2009. Even laymen knew it! That was when he made one last ditch attempt to earn big money in an unprecedented way.
Entertaining purchasing officers to luxury is an old trick played by some traders. It is particularly common in the defence trade when third world countries are involved. Since Fonseka assumed the role of the purchasing officer, he and his family was entitled to spend a week in luxury at the Fujitsu Royal Hotel in China. Their trip started on May 11th and lasted till May 17th.
Room numbers 1620, 1630, 1620A, 1618, 1519, 1521, 1626, and 1628 were reserved for them. These rooms were for Sarath Fonseka, his wife Anoma Fonseka, his two daughters Apsara Tillakaratne and Aparna Fonseka, his son in law Danuna Tillakaratne, a major general and his wife, one Brigadier, two Lt Colonels, one Captain and one Lieutenant. This was the time the decisive battle for peace was fought in Mulaitivu. An army commander has no bigger joy than participate in the final battle. But not in the case of Fonseka. What was so important for Fonseka that he even neglected the final victorious battle and ran away from Sri Lanka?
During this long trip Fonseka and Danuna who owns a weapons buying and selling company, visited two main corporations specialised in selling weapons to third world countries. They are NORINCO and Poly Technologies. Sri Lanka army, navy, air force and the Ministry of Defence have been purchasing weapons from both these companies for a long time. For instance in April 2007 a classified purchased of US$37 million was made from these companies. However, in May 2009 things were going to get bigger!
This time the value of the purchase order was a staggering US$ 200 million which is higher than the total annual defence capital budget! This act also contravenes the gazette notification on 30 July 2007 prohibiting the purchase of many defence items by entities other than Ministry of Defence owned Lanka Logistics and Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. By the time the deal was done, the war has ended in Sri Lanka without Fonseka. Purchases made by Fonseka assumed the war to continue and now they were not required.
Defence Secretary had no choice than to ask Fonseka to cancel the order. It doesn’t feel right when you have benefited from the hospitality of a supplier with the promise of giving business and subsequently cancelling the order. What’s more embarrassing was that the Defence Secretary asked Fonseka to declare the cancellation himself. Reluctantly Fonseka cancelled the order in July 2009. It is the first time in the world an Army Commander cancelling military purchases. In other countries and in Sri Lanka before Fonseka assuming high office, the Army Commander and the Chief of Defence don’t get involved in purchasing. Purchasing includes cancelling purchase orders.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL487424.htm
Now Fonseka is trying to release hardcore LTTE terrorists are restart the war so that more and more weapons will be needed. When it comes to purchasing weapons he and his family will benefit immensely.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Sarath Fonseka and Danuna Tillakaratne
Photo - nation.lk
The above photo was published on February 4, 2007, four months before the wedding of Apsara and Danuna. Obviously the photo was taken on an earlier date.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Investigate Possible Corruption and Collusion - Part 4 - Danuna’s Tidal Trading Company
It is upto a competent court to make a conviction based on corruption allegations. The task of journalists is to highlight possible corruption so that investigations can proceed until the process of the law takes over from there. Danuna Tillakaratne started a business in USA in 2001. This is his first company. Its name is Tidal Trading. It stated with exporting used computers, monitors, laptops to Sri Lanka. Its address is the same as Danuna’s other businesses including the notorious HiCorp. It’s 17545 Gold Dr, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. Interestingly he has stated the name of the legal representative as “Dan” and contact person as “Dan Til”. It is not rocket science to see that it is none other than Danuna Tillakaratne! Here’s the link - http://www.bizearch.com/company/Tidal_Trading_213766.htm (Picture-1)
In describing their business, they had this to say, “We Export used computers, monitors, laptops to Sri Lanka. We will be interested in purchasing used computers from USA, in quantities of 40Ft containers. Used computers should be tested and working. We have a company branch located in USA. Please send us your company details, information and price quotation for bulk orders”.
However, in 2005 Tidal Trading changes its business from a low profit used computer business to a weapons trading company. This is what they had to say then. “We are from a company that supplies military equipment to the Military (Army, Navy, Air force) in Sri Lanka. IWe are in the process of fining new military suppliers from Russia/china/USA/Ukraine/etc.” Link - http://www.ecvv.com/offerdetail/A252170.html
Here Danuna fails to give his details but the address is the same. Please note the date of publishing.
Why did he suddenly change the nature of business? To find answers, one has to travel to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka army has a tender procedure. According to the procedure the Army Chief of Staff is the one in charge of tenders. In 2005 Sarath Fonseka was appointed the Army Chief of Staff! Father-in-law to be and son-in-law to be started this weapons selling venture in 2005.
Fonseka was so engrossed in weapons selling he reshuffled the tender procedure in the army when he became the army commander. Unther these changes, he himself took the task of buying weapons for the army. In another article we reported how he himself gave the purchase order to buy 22 defective Al Khalid tanks from Pakistan at a total cost exceeding US$100 million.
http://www.gmdu.net/corp-196729.html
They further advertised their trade in the following popular website. http://catalog.globalimporter.net/company/92/106107
In that Danuna correctly identifies himself as the contact person (Mr Danuna Tillakaratne). And the address is the same. A confident Danuna gives the company profile as following - “We an authorized distributor/wholesaler for a few companies.
Our products include tea that we could supply from any quantity, quality to any kind of packaging.
We also are a distributor/wholesaler for a large urea (fertilizer) manufacturing company. Our company is also interested in military products. (We buy small military equipments to large equipments such as tanks and planes.” Of course!
In describing their business, they had this to say, “We Export used computers, monitors, laptops to Sri Lanka. We will be interested in purchasing used computers from USA, in quantities of 40Ft containers. Used computers should be tested and working. We have a company branch located in USA. Please send us your company details, information and price quotation for bulk orders”.
However, in 2005 Tidal Trading changes its business from a low profit used computer business to a weapons trading company. This is what they had to say then. “We are from a company that supplies military equipment to the Military (Army, Navy, Air force) in Sri Lanka. IWe are in the process of fining new military suppliers from Russia/china/USA/Ukraine/etc.” Link - http://www.ecvv.com/offerdetail/A252170.html
Here Danuna fails to give his details but the address is the same. Please note the date of publishing.
Why did he suddenly change the nature of business? To find answers, one has to travel to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka army has a tender procedure. According to the procedure the Army Chief of Staff is the one in charge of tenders. In 2005 Sarath Fonseka was appointed the Army Chief of Staff! Father-in-law to be and son-in-law to be started this weapons selling venture in 2005.
Fonseka was so engrossed in weapons selling he reshuffled the tender procedure in the army when he became the army commander. Unther these changes, he himself took the task of buying weapons for the army. In another article we reported how he himself gave the purchase order to buy 22 defective Al Khalid tanks from Pakistan at a total cost exceeding US$100 million.
http://www.gmdu.net/corp-196729.html
They further advertised their trade in the following popular website. http://catalog.globalimporter.net/company/92/106107
In that Danuna correctly identifies himself as the contact person (Mr Danuna Tillakaratne). And the address is the same. A confident Danuna gives the company profile as following - “We an authorized distributor/wholesaler for a few companies.
Our products include tea that we could supply from any quantity, quality to any kind of packaging.
We also are a distributor/wholesaler for a large urea (fertilizer) manufacturing company. Our company is also interested in military products. (We buy small military equipments to large equipments such as tanks and planes.” Of course!
Friday, January 8, 2010
In an Unprecedented Development Danuna Admits Selling Weapons While Fonseka Rejects
The foregoing are facts and intended only for the factual revelation of events and in no way attempt to add or modify factual content of the news items from popular sources. Culprits must be identified and punished only by a competant court. Our task is to bring to you a factual digest of events from credible and demonstratable sources.
Son-in-law against father-in-law! In an unprecedented move Danuna Tillakaratne has accepted allegations that companies owned by him sold weapons and other goods to Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force. Danuna Tillakaratne is the President of the two companies that sold weapons, etc. to Sri Lanka - HiCorp International and British Borneo Defense. In a statement published in the HiCorp’s website he also admits that General Sarath Fonseka was fully aware of these transactions. Further, he hints at Fonseka’s ownership of the company as well!
However Fonseka continues to decline it. It is still unclear how he will react to these revelations that came at a time least expected.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrmTLL6O9F4
This is likely to turn tables on Fonseka who is screaming about transparency and corruption.
The following appeared in the HiCorp website.
Quote:
OUR ATTENTION HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO CERTAIN ALLEGATIONS MADE IN THE PARLIAMENT OF SRILANKA REGARDING NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS WITH THE SRILANKA ARMY. AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY I WISH TO CLARIFY THE ISSUES RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER, FOR THE BENIFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Our company, Hicorp International, has followed the proper procedures when bidding for tenders with the Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air Force. As President of HiCorp International, I take full responsibility for all tenders bid for by us, and our partner companies British Borneo Defense, Satpro Communications and Hitrone LC. We believe that these tenders were granted due to the lower bids we consistently offered to the Sri Lankan forces.
Further, I would like to confirm that although General Fonseka was aware of these bids as Chairman of the Tender Board, his decision to award the tenders to us, were not affected due to my relationship with him or his ownership in the company.
Thank you,
Danuna Tilakaratne
President, HiCorp International & British Borneo Defense
Oklahoma, USA
End quote.
This is the link to the website. http://hicorp.us/index.htm
Apart from proving Fonseka wrong the above revelation has another important thing. It says, “his ownership in the company”. This means not only Danuna but Fonseka too owns HiCorp and/or its sister companies. In other words Fonseka has sold weapons, etc. to Fonseka but paid by taxpayers’ money.
In a desperate bid Fonseka is trying hard to show that the HiCorp website was hacked! The level of his ‘understanding’ can be seen from this. How does he know the HiCorp website has been hacked? If he has nothing to do with HiCorp, how on earth does Sarath Fonseka know that it has been hacked? The former soldier from the Lion (Sinha) Regiment is said to have crossed over to the Tiger Regiment. To his dismay, the President of HiCorp, Danuna, has not said anything more so far!
However Fonseka continues to decline it. It is still unclear how he will react to these revelations that came at a time least expected.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrmTLL6O9F4
This is likely to turn tables on Fonseka who is screaming about transparency and corruption.
The following appeared in the HiCorp website.
Quote:
OUR ATTENTION HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO CERTAIN ALLEGATIONS MADE IN THE PARLIAMENT OF SRILANKA REGARDING NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS WITH THE SRILANKA ARMY. AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY I WISH TO CLARIFY THE ISSUES RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER, FOR THE BENIFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Our company, Hicorp International, has followed the proper procedures when bidding for tenders with the Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air Force. As President of HiCorp International, I take full responsibility for all tenders bid for by us, and our partner companies British Borneo Defense, Satpro Communications and Hitrone LC. We believe that these tenders were granted due to the lower bids we consistently offered to the Sri Lankan forces.
Further, I would like to confirm that although General Fonseka was aware of these bids as Chairman of the Tender Board, his decision to award the tenders to us, were not affected due to my relationship with him or his ownership in the company.
Thank you,
Danuna Tilakaratne
President, HiCorp International & British Borneo Defense
Oklahoma, USA
End quote.
This is the link to the website. http://hicorp.us/index.htm
Apart from proving Fonseka wrong the above revelation has another important thing. It says, “his ownership in the company”. This means not only Danuna but Fonseka too owns HiCorp and/or its sister companies. In other words Fonseka has sold weapons, etc. to Fonseka but paid by taxpayers’ money.
In a desperate bid Fonseka is trying hard to show that the HiCorp website was hacked! The level of his ‘understanding’ can be seen from this. How does he know the HiCorp website has been hacked? If he has nothing to do with HiCorp, how on earth does Sarath Fonseka know that it has been hacked? The former soldier from the Lion (Sinha) Regiment is said to have crossed over to the Tiger Regiment. To his dismay, the President of HiCorp, Danuna, has not said anything more so far!
Readers are advised to do their own research along these proven, reported facts.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Investigate Possible Corruption and Collusion - Part 3 - Al Khalid Massive Fraud
An Al Khalid tank and a T55.
What is the Main Battle Tank (MBT) of Sri Lanka? It is the mighty T-55. Although it is an old tank, given its enormous ability to take on the enemy - the LTTE - in our terrain, its cost advantage and durability won it the admiration and love of the soldiers. It is a Russian war tank but due to its outstanding success, many variants are manufactured in a number of countries including India. Among its competitors is the AL Khalid tank which is a later day tank. Its Pakistani made. It’s a good tank but less used than the T-55 tank around the world. It’s a carbon copy of Chinese NORINCO Company’s Type 90 tank. In fact the Al Khalid tank was the result of collaboration between NORINCO and Pakistan.
How many Al Khalid tanks were in Sri Lanka? None. But none other than General Sarath Fonseka purchased 22 AL Khalid tanks at a cost of US$100 million a few years ago! Where are the tanks?
That’s not all, he bypass all the anti-corruption mechanisms in place and entered into the purchase transaction himself. He himself finalized the deal!
“It was exactly a year ago, in the first week of May 2008, that Sri Lankan Army Chief Lt Gen Fonseka visited Pakistan and held detailed talks with his Pakistani counterpart Chief of Army Staff General Asfaq Parvez Kayani to finalise the purchase of high-tech arms for the Lankan armed forces, which were embroiled in an intense battle with the LTTE forces even at that time.
According to the report, during the talks with Pakistani military authorities, Lt Gen Fonseka had finalised a deal under which Pakistan supplied 22 Al-Khalid main battle tanks to Sri Lanka worth USD 100 million.”
Here is third party indisputable evidence of it.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/pakistan-played-major-role-in-ltte-defeat-sources/16/54/63044/on
Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary subsequently cancelled this order due to the wrongful nature of the purchase procedure, violating the gazette notification of the 30 July 2007 (http://www.lltl.lk/pdf/annexa_government_gazzette.pdf - violates number 16 of the prohibited list) and Sri Lanka didn’t purchase or operate the Al-Khalid tank.
Unfortunately for him it didn’t end there. As usual he contradicted himself.
QUESTION:
There are allegations that the Army commander was involved in a fraud when procuring arms for the Army
ANSWER BY FONSEKA:
All arms were procured for the Army through the Company Lanka Logistics. The Chairman of that Co. is Gatabaya Rajapakse, the Defense Secretary. All money dealings and transactions were done by them. We only do the technical analysis on them. Payments for them are all authorized by them.
http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=8724
The how can he explain this money dealing in addition to the Al Khalid deal?
“The newly-appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Sarath Fonseka, said on Wednesday that the island nation had cancelled the import of ammunition valued at $200 million from China and Pakistan following the end Eelam War IV. He also announced that India was sending 500 personnel to clear mines in the north.”
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/16/stories/2009071653321200.htm
What is the Main Battle Tank (MBT) of Sri Lanka? It is the mighty T-55. Although it is an old tank, given its enormous ability to take on the enemy - the LTTE - in our terrain, its cost advantage and durability won it the admiration and love of the soldiers. It is a Russian war tank but due to its outstanding success, many variants are manufactured in a number of countries including India. Among its competitors is the AL Khalid tank which is a later day tank. Its Pakistani made. It’s a good tank but less used than the T-55 tank around the world. It’s a carbon copy of Chinese NORINCO Company’s Type 90 tank. In fact the Al Khalid tank was the result of collaboration between NORINCO and Pakistan.
How many Al Khalid tanks were in Sri Lanka? None. But none other than General Sarath Fonseka purchased 22 AL Khalid tanks at a cost of US$100 million a few years ago! Where are the tanks?
That’s not all, he bypass all the anti-corruption mechanisms in place and entered into the purchase transaction himself. He himself finalized the deal!
“It was exactly a year ago, in the first week of May 2008, that Sri Lankan Army Chief Lt Gen Fonseka visited Pakistan and held detailed talks with his Pakistani counterpart Chief of Army Staff General Asfaq Parvez Kayani to finalise the purchase of high-tech arms for the Lankan armed forces, which were embroiled in an intense battle with the LTTE forces even at that time.
According to the report, during the talks with Pakistani military authorities, Lt Gen Fonseka had finalised a deal under which Pakistan supplied 22 Al-Khalid main battle tanks to Sri Lanka worth USD 100 million.”
Here is third party indisputable evidence of it.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/pakistan-played-major-role-in-ltte-defeat-sources/16/54/63044/on
Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary subsequently cancelled this order due to the wrongful nature of the purchase procedure, violating the gazette notification of the 30 July 2007 (http://www.lltl.lk/pdf/annexa_government_gazzette.pdf - violates number 16 of the prohibited list) and Sri Lanka didn’t purchase or operate the Al-Khalid tank.
Unfortunately for him it didn’t end there. As usual he contradicted himself.
QUESTION:
There are allegations that the Army commander was involved in a fraud when procuring arms for the Army
ANSWER BY FONSEKA:
All arms were procured for the Army through the Company Lanka Logistics. The Chairman of that Co. is Gatabaya Rajapakse, the Defense Secretary. All money dealings and transactions were done by them. We only do the technical analysis on them. Payments for them are all authorized by them.
http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=8724
The how can he explain this money dealing in addition to the Al Khalid deal?
“The newly-appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Sarath Fonseka, said on Wednesday that the island nation had cancelled the import of ammunition valued at $200 million from China and Pakistan following the end Eelam War IV. He also announced that India was sending 500 personnel to clear mines in the north.”
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/16/stories/2009071653321200.htm
Friday, January 1, 2010
Investigate Possible Corruption and Collusion - Part 2 - Senehasa Special School Irregularity
We have seen those who promised to end corruption end up as corrupt. It is up to a competent court to convict a wrongdoer and it is not the intention of this series of articles to call anyone corrupt and make decisions. Instead what is intended is to shed some light based on third party generated, non-political evidence, widely available to readers, on possible corruption and collusion in military purchases. This evidence is not the creation of any interested party trying to defame anyone. In fact it has been created in most instances by the actors themselves! That means the accuracy, objectivity and relevance of these pieces of evidence remain very high. Same goes for third party evidence. Readers are free to do their own investigations into these independent sources. Newspapers may be burnt, media men may be killed, they can be assaulted and intimidated, they can be silenced, they can be given false news; but internet based evidence cannot be so easily erased.Soliciting donations from suppliers is not considered good practice even for a customer of that supplier. In the case of suppliers of the Ministry of Defence or the Sri Lanka Army, the customer is either the Ministry of Defence or the Sri Lanka Army. Officers of the Army are not even customers and soliciting donations from the suppliers of the Ministry of Defence or the Sri Lanka Army is a corrupt act in itself. That’s not all. If they beg for donations for their own projects not directly owned by either the Ministry of Defence or the Sri Lanka Army, from suppliers of the Ministry of Defence or the Sri Lanka Army, it is an even lower act of corruption.
The Army Commander has a say in direct purchasing up to a limit. In addition he also holds a high position in Lanka Logistics and Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. Unfortunately Sarath Fonseka had both these privileges and he exploited it for unscrupulous ends.
Senehasa Special School
Senehasa Special School for special needs children is a project pioneered by Sarath Fonseka and Anoma Fonseka while the former was the army commander and when the latter was holding high office in the Army Seva Vanitha Unit (SVU). They approached a Pakistani supplier to the Sri Lanka Army for donations. And they succeeded in getting a donation of a million rupees. Obviously a supplier to Sri Lanka Army would make a donation if he is pre-selected for future business. Otherwise there is absolutely no reason why a Pakistani defence supplier would donate for a charitable project in Sri Lanka.
The following has been quoted from the website.
http://www.senehasa.org/projects.php
"As an initiative taken by Brigadier N.U.M.M.W. Senanayake, the Gulf Maritime Services Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd of Karachchi, donated Rs one million to the Seva Vanitha Army Branch to be utilised for the Senehasa Special School.
The cheque was handed over to Mrs Anoma Fonseka at the presence of the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka by the special representative of the company Mr. Nisal Yousuf Ahmed 20th February 2009at the Army Headquarter. Brigadier N.U.M.M.W. Senanayake and Colonel A.K. Suraweera were also present on the occasion. The representative of the company pledged further support for the project in the future."
Gulf Maritime Services Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd
Established in 1984 as shipping agents and then gradually developed into trade, chartering and transportation projects and defense cargoes. Also logistics and freight forwarding business carried out through sister company."
http://www.tradeboss.com/default.cgi/action/viewcompanies/companyid/301787/
Along with Ceylon Shipping Corporation, Gulf Maritime Services Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd was involved in shipping weapons Sri Lanka army purchased from Pakistan. Canvassing for donations from this defence supplier is hence wrong and must be investigated.
Soldiers wail while VIPs cruise
From The Sunday Leader 13 April 2008.
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20080413/spotlight.htm
By Ranjith Jayasundera
While the frontline soldiers in the army are off "crusading to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the motherland" in the deadly battles of the Wanni, some lucky souls associated to the army have the privilege of cruising no crusading for them in a brand spanking new Merdeces Benz W221 (2006) S350L.
Any vehicle enthusiast will tell you that the “S-Class” series is Mercedes Benz’s most vaunted line of super-luxury vehicles, just one notch down from their legendary ultra-luxury Maybach Benz series. The vehicle was purchased as a "staff car" by the army’s Ordinance Directorate on March 14 at a price of Rs. 44 million.
Cost of variation
What’s more, the “L” suffix after the S350 indicates one minute variation at a cost of Rs. 3 million. A sales manager at Dimo, Sri Lanka’s sole agent for Mercedes Benz, told The Sunday Leader that the difference between the L (meaning long wheelbase) and the standard version was that the long wheelbase version has an extra 15 cm of legroom in the back seat.
For some of us shaken by the skyrocketing cost of living, if we required more legroom in the back seat we would politely ask the driver and front seat passenger to pull their seats forward by about 15 cm. Others with the privilege of spending public money to stretch their legs, it appears, can have the army shell out an extra 30 lakhs - the price of a couple of cars - for a long wheelbase Benz.
After shelling out Rs. 200,000 per centimetre of extra legroom, we hope at the least that the vehicle’s intended occupant is comfortable. This begs the question of who the super-luxury vehicle is intended for. We called and asked Military Spokesman, Brigadier Udaya Nannayakara if he could confirm the purchase, to which he said he would check with the army and revert the next day.
However when we called the next day to follow up the question with Brigadier Nanayakara he stonewalled. "I have no information. You will have to check with Dimo," he said.
When The Sunday Leader contacted army Major M.A.V. Gunarathna who signed the purchase order for the Rs. 44 million vehicle "for the Commander of the Army," and asked him who the vehicle was for, he replied that it was for the use of senior army staff.
Starving masses
We pressed the Major on the question of how a senior army officer could travel in a normal, unarmoured vehicle given the current security situation. He had no response. We finally asked him why the army spent Rs. 44 million on a luxury vehicle when it could not be used by the Army Commander or any senior officer at risk from the LTTE due to the fact that it was not armoured.
"What is your problem (gattaluma) with the price of the vehicle?" he retorted. It is not us who have a problem, we thought to ourselves, but the starving masses. Sources have revealed to The Sunday Leader that the vehicle is intended not for Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, but allegedly for the use of his wife. The decision to go the extra Rs. 3 million and get a long wheelbase version means there will be no problem fitting all the groceries in the back seat. Major M.A.V. Gunarathna however vehemently denied the vehicle was for the army chief’s wife and said it was purchased for the use of senior army officers.
Besides, thanks to Mercedes’ Airmatic DC adjustable suspension control, at the touch of a button the army officers or anyone else for that matter can ensure that their eggs do not crack on the way home from shopping by having the vehicle electronically compensate for road and driving conditions, meaning potholes.
Sophisticated entertainment
It gets better. Whilst General Fonseka’s troops die on the battlefield to the screeching wails of their valiant comrades, some army officer or otherwise will be entertained on the road by a 14 speaker ‘harman/kardon’ Logic-7 stereo speaker system with an in-dash CD changer, allowing them a choice of music as they cruise around.
What would happen however if all this indulgence at the expense of an almost starving public were to cause the occupant’s conscience to kick in, and if he/she were to break a sweat out of guilt? Never fear, Mercedes Benz has that eventuality covered too. The 2006 W221 S350L that he/she travels in is fitted with active-ventilated seats equipped with small fans to keep the seats cool and draw perspiration away from occupants.
In a worst case scenario, the occupant of this super luxury vehicle could always count on the variable colour fibre optic lighting system for the dashboard and foot-wells to provide some sense of soothing ambience. But it is not only the privileged occupant but also the driver who gets the pleasure of handling a 7-speed (or 7G-tronic as Mercedes puts it) automatic transmission system equipped with not one but two reverse speed settings.
Whether customs duty was paid on the vehicle, we are unable to tell as Customs officials did not answer their phones despite repeated attempts. It is not usual for the military to pay customs duty on vehicles it imports for its use. Needless to say Major M.A.V. Gunarathna refused to answer any further questions about the vehicle purchase once it clicked to him that he was speaking to The Sunday Leader.
Mystery
However the price paid for the vehicle adds mystery to the issue. A Dimo sales manager told us that their retail price for an S350L is Rs. 53 million. The army paid Rs.44 million for their car including Rs.7.3 million in VAT. Dimo’s retail price without VAT is Rs. 45 million.
Thus if the army paid duty on the vehicle, which would be irregular, it then received the super-luxury car at a Rs.9 million discount from Dimo on their retail price. However if duty has not been paid on the vehicle then its retail value landed in Sri Lanka would have been Rs. 36.7 million, around US$ 330,000.
According to a knowledgeable Mercedes enthusiast, there is no configuration of the S350 available no matter what options are selected, that can exceed US$ 100,000 in value before Sri Lankan taxes. "That is unless they have platinum and diamond fittings throughout the inside," he added sarcastically.
Draw the line
Someone has to draw the line on the government’s triple speak about the war. On one hand our Consumer Affairs Minister, Bandula Gunawardena keeps spewing out gems on the rising cost of living and asks the public to brace for bread at Rs.200 a loaf. Exhibit B is Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nirvard Cabraal’s multitude of excuses for skyrocketing inflation, with insistences of course, that it has little to do with the pot loads of money he decided to print last year to pander to the Chinthana’s whims.
Finally we have the military pitch. Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, is due to retire at the end of this year, and it appears his estimates on the number of Tigers remaining are best described by the current rate of inflation. Despite killing almost a thousand Tigers a month, the number of Tigers remaining seems to be inflating by 28%, just like the cost of living.
General Fonseka while packing off soldiers to die for their country, has been given an unprecedentedly high defence budget this year with the backing of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse, purportedly to wrap up this war before it becomes too politically disastrous for the Defence Secretary’s brother - the President.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)