Rajitha misfires again, but Nigeria discloses deals with Avant Garde
The role of spokespeople is to set out the official line of the bodies they represent so people not only in Sri Lanka but also the world over get things right. More so, with those speaking for the Government, it becomes essential.
Former Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella often did not get things right. This is why he was lampooned so much by cartoonists and became the butt end of media criticism. Some of the remarks he then made were not even near the truth.
Rambukwella's successor, Minister Rajitha Senaratne, has not only outdone his predecessor as official spokesperson. He has also added one more dubious achievement, creating an international furore of sorts. In the process, other lesser known secrets have also come out.
At a news briefing, Minister Senaratne charged that the private maritime security firm Avant Garde Maritime Security Limited (AGMSL) had supplied weapons to Nigeria and that the arms had ended up in the hands of Boko Haram, the rebel group fighting in that country. The remark incensed the new Nigerian Government of military strongman Muhammadu Buhari who was elected President at the April 5 election.
His Government sent a strong protest to the Sri Lanka Government. Nigeria's High Commissioner S.U. Ahmed called on Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera late last month to hand over a Third Person Note (TPN) which contained the protest.
During talks between Minister Samaraweera and High Commissioner Ahmed, other details about the private security firm Avant Garde Limited, still under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), also emerged. Mr. Ahmed said he had been asked to convey to the Sri Lanka Government that Nigeria entered into a US$ 300 million contract to train sea marshals for their country and build a fleet of boats at a yard in Colombo with this firm, in the belief that it was part of the Government of Sri Lanka. The envoy said the Nigerian Government was unaware that it was a private entity.
Giving credence to such belief was a Sri Lanka military delegation which the head of the private security firm, retired Major Nissanka Senadipathi, led in June last year to Nigeria. Among those in the delegation were Chief of Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera and Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) retired Major General Kapila Hendavithana. Avant Garde has publicly admitted that a military delegation went to Nigeria and released a photograph where these former top security officials are featured. They were in civilian clothes in that photograph.
The photograph published with this story was taken in the Nigerian capital of Abuja where the then serving military officials are in their official uniform. Also in the picture is Damayanthi Jayaratne who was then Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and has now been transferred to the pool in the Ministry of Public Administration. Mr. Senadipathy, in coat and tie, stands in the middle next to Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera who is in white uniform. Seated are senior Nigerian defence and security officials.