Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The Corruption Debate and Awareness Must Continue

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.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Bandit King Chadralal Joins Bandit Queen Chandrika




The Chandralal-Chandrika union was predicted by voters more than a month ago.

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.

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

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.

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!