Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today terminated the proceedings of the Avant Garde case after the Criminal Investigations Department(CID) of police informed courts that it would not go ahead with the case under the instructions of the Attorney General.
Gota
The court has also lifted the order restricting the chairman of Avant Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd Major Nissanka Senadhipathi from overseas travel.
Colombo Chief Magistrate issued the travel restriction order in January due to the ongoing investigations by the CID on Avant Garde’s floating armory maintained at the Galle Harbor.
According to Police sources the CID during their investigation had not uncovered any details that the Avant Garde had done anything illegal.
The CID had failed to find any evidence that Avant Garde had either sold arms to overseas terrorist groups and also had used the weapons for illegal purposes as alleged earlier.
When the case came into prominence , former Navy Commander Admiral (Retd) Somathilake Dissanayake had said that the floating armory was operated legally under the collective efforts of the defense sector of the Armory, the Sri Lankan Navy, Rakna Arakshaka Lanka (Pvt.) Limited, and Avant Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd.
The use of the armory was authorized by the Ministry of Defence.
However, the case figured prominently in political circles with those in the present government accusing powerful figures in the former regime including former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa of illegal arms sale and other wrongdoings.
The former Defence Secretary was questioned by the CID over the issue and the court also had imposed a travel ban which had been later lifted.
Also the courts issued an order earlier giving permission to probe the bank accounts of several persons involved in Galle floating armory.
Meanwhile the cabinet spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne had earlier claimed that the government was conducting investigations to either establish or dismiss suspicions of whether controversial Maritime Security services company Avant Garde has been supplying weapons to Nigerian terror group Boko Haram.
“We know that Avant Garde worked closely with the Nigerian Government and supplied them with arms. We are now examining the likelihood of Avant Garde having had dealings, including arms supplies, with Boko Haram” Dr. Senaratne had said earlier.
Meanwhile political circles today expressed surprise at the sudden decision to conclude the investigation.
A JVP parliamentarian reacting to the incident with a very obvious scoff said that the good governance has borne fruit.
Related posts;
Exclusive: Ranil Prevents Gota Arrest
Exclusive: Attorney General’s Recommendations On Gota Arrest: Full Text
Amarasiri / September 7, 2015
RE: Avant Garde Floating Armoury Case: CID Fails To Find Evidence Of Any Misconduct
So everybody is now bribed.
So no misconduct found.
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paddy / September 8, 2015
So what’s next? Thajudeen threw his wallet and crashed his car and burnt himself to death? Plausible!!
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Dodo / September 8, 2015
CID and the Attorney General’s Office are a big joke! Full of corrupt crooks and political stooges of Mahinda Jarapassa and Sirisena.
Yahapalanaya is finished – dead as a dodo!
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Sinhala_Man / September 8, 2015
Chilling parallels with the Maldives, but many of us have such short memories. I remember because I met Anni (Ex-President Mohamed Nasheed) in 1994 when also he was a prisoner.
When he was President, there was a corrupt potty little judge who was “looking after the interests” of the horrible Gayyooms. In frustration, Nasheed had the judge arrested (this may be an over-simplification of the case). The whole world was shocked for a couple of days at the video footage that they saw, and then forgot.
Let us not allow this to happen here!
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leelawathie / September 8, 2015
This means not that all the alleged cases could end up this way.
Remember in the Ruggerite murder case, they have found the mobile phone of the victimized – that could reveal a lot.
And all phone conversations could be traced and find out wihtout whom the victimized spoke last… and and.. so, Rajapakshes will not be able to hide and blind the nation as they feel. Gone were the days that they could.. since stupid folks backed to them even whotut their knowledge since sinhalese genes are easily manipulative for even rice packets.
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paddy / September 8, 2015
Haiyo Leelawathie … you really are living in a fool’s paradise, aren’t you. A few months ago the telephone provider had already told court that they don’t keep records that far and all records have been erased.
Here’s a little secret … If KP is not a terrorist and if Avant Gard did not commit any crime, then this poor ruggerite’s death was accidental.
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leelawathie / September 8, 2015
Leelawathie is not living in the country thought she keeps visiting her parents twice year or so. But I have much hope this time than anytimes earlier.
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Navin / September 8, 2015
Dont lose hope. Today our Prime Minister has ordered those concerned with investigations to let him know what’s going on. No no, he is not going to leak any information to Rajapaksa.
Dont worry about anything; he is going to fix everything and hang the murderers himself.
Sri Lanka is full of Leelawathies and Somapalas. Ranil and Maithripala are fully aware of this and they doing their best to satisfy them. Again, dont worry about anything.
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Leelawathie / September 8, 2015
Navin, yours make me happy, but what do you mean by srilanka is full of leelawathies ? Do you think so ? I thought those back WEERAWANSE are the majority in the country to this date. Acutaly, I cant do anything against me to be called Leelawathie. I wanne to see right things finally happening in my former country.
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Dev / September 7, 2015
Another headline in a few months:
Domestic mechanism to address accountability issues: Commission Fails To Find Evidence Of Any Misconduct
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Native Vedda / September 8, 2015
Dev
Two commissions/inquiry appointed by MR already had come to the same conclusions in the last three years or so.
What more is there to find?
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Murki / September 7, 2015
No Comments :/
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Bookie Pala / September 7, 2015
That’s the way to go; Sweep everything under the carpet. Because in five years time the tables will be turned and it will then be your turn to be let off the hook.
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Don Stanley / September 7, 2015
The Corrupt clown at the Central Bank Arjuna Mahendran is going strong while the AG office another corrupt out fit is dropping all its cases against corrupt politicians and their stooges.
This is the Ranil-Sirisena Good governance joke in the name of National reconciliation on the Sri Lanka voters continues, while the corrupt politicians in the Diyawenna Parliament’s tea party continues..
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S.Modaya / September 7, 2015
The rotten political culture of corruption with impunity for criminal politicians is going from strength to strength in the Miracle of Modayas!
The good governance fart stinks as does Sirisena and his corrupt national government.
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WalaGemba Raja / September 7, 2015
“….CID Fails To Find Evidence Of Any Misconduct”
Which means the entire criminal division and law enforcement deserves to be overhauled and CID acronym changed to CANNOT IDENTIFY D!CK.
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Ben Hurling / September 7, 2015
Sir,
I propose from now on we assign both CID and Attorney General to more serious tasks that truly threaten our society.
1. CID can brutally assault starving kids in rural Sri Lanka. They steal coconuts to raise funds to buy vital school supplies. They can be caught red-handed easily.
2. Attorney General can go after with a vengeance the poverty-stricken women of Sri Lanka. Specially those who sell their bodies to buy life-saving drugs for their incurably sick husbands. These women can easily be caught in the act.
Cheers!
PS: One by one, all Rajapassa clan members will walk free. Besides, they have busy lives ahead. As Stolen Wealth Fund Managers.
Rather than wasting time on politics and endless court cases.
That’s how we roll in this country.
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Daniel D / September 8, 2015
trust me they will NOT walk free.
There are lot more cases being investigated against them.
Too early to draw final conclusions of your kind.
Cheers.
D
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Ben Hurling / September 8, 2015
Daniel D,
Prosecuting Gota is a no go area. Get real. He has way too many blood-soaked skeletons in the cupboard. It will implicate the whole corrupt establishment.
Will be akin to opening a “Can of Worms”. Corrupt criminal justice system, brutality, torture, murder since 1948 will be laid bare open to the whole world to see.
All criminality of the state will be exposed. Top echelons of both SLFP, UNP, military & Police will be dragged into the case.
However, I like optimists. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Therefore I have no issues with you.
Cheers!
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Native Vedda / September 8, 2015
Ben Hurling
Justice Sri Lankan style.
What hope is there for the victims of war crimes and crime against humanity?
There are people who are still hopelessly awaiting for justice and closure since 5th April 1971.
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srilal / September 7, 2015
Last week Colombo Magistrate Gihan Pilapiyia sentenced a man for
one year for stealing Rs 20.00( Yes twenty Rupees ) from a till in Slave Island Mosque . before giving the verdict , 4 witnesses , one 10 Rupee coin , one Ten Rupee Note and a piece of a stick were produced as supporting materials to convict the accused . here we have an illegal multi Million Dollar arms trade still no shred of evidence to convict any of the hot shots , don’t we deserve “Punnakku ” as our staple food , people ?
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Sama / September 8, 2015
For ones living out of the country – it is not easy to get it.
Why is that the court cant make proper verdicts ? I mean going to back to 70ties we had good courts in the country. Even if the govt changed, why cant judges to do their job properly ? I am fed up lanken systems. Lucky I am to have decided to my rest of life on the west. I stayed here after my degrees but not wanting to stay here forever. Now I feel it is really hard to live with lanken systems. Can you please respond to me Srilal ?
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srilal / September 9, 2015
Dear Sama ,
Sri lanka has been abused and raped by the successive politicians for a very long time , but with this new ” good governance ” theme , things could change , one good sign though ,unlike our previous leaders , current dynamic duo , both MY3 and Ranil are not corrupt leaders , they may have their own short comings , but certainly not corrupt !
As to our present judges , most of them have been promoted and elevated to current positions by MR ;Hence, impartial justice can’t be expected from any of them i.e Eva W , Sarath de Abrew are point in case .
my guess is , despite all these setbacks , Sri Lanka will bounce back and will shine a light in 5 to 10 years time.
PS : I myself studied & graduated from a western university and used to work in the west , as far as i see , both worlds have their own ups and downs , Sri lanka could be a much better place if we select the right leaders Sama . we have managed to get rid of the biggest obstacle which we faced in our post independent era , Sri lanka without any of the Rajapaksas’ is a truly welcome sign ;thus , we are heading in the right direction.
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Jim softy / September 7, 2015
That investigation was completely political.
corruption , including Central bank scandal,happened in the 100 day govt. but, everybody was silent.
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Native Vedda / September 7, 2015
Gota looks innocent and happy.
How did he manage to pull strings?
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Kitta / September 8, 2015
Such a sane bloke isn’t he. Can’t figure out why many people don’t like him.
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mike / September 8, 2015
NV
This bugger GOATa must have had “strings” for breakfast with My3 !
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Piranha / September 7, 2015
The same Attorney General also said that there was no evidence to prosecute KP!
The problem here is the Attorney General who was appointed by the previous regime. He deliberately did not prosecute anybody in the Rajapaksa regime and their cronies for any of the numerous criminal activities they were involved in.
It is time the judicial authorities had a closer look at the Attorney General’s behaviour.
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Agnos / September 8, 2015
Not only that. Tilak Marapone of the UNP was said to have connections to Mr. Senadhipathi. I also recall Marapone was not impartial on some human rights cases when he was the AG. Little wonder that the Tamil people have no faith in domestic war crimes investigations, even with the new regime in power.
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jehan / September 7, 2015
deals
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Ajith / September 7, 2015
It is the beauty of Srilankan Politics. Reconciliation between Mahinda-Mithiri-Ranil. I think it is waste to have the law & order and justice system in Srilanka.
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Pygmalion / September 7, 2015
Is this the Tip of an Ice-berg?
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punchinilame / September 8, 2015
Will any public interest Lawyer be able to trace the subsequent greasing of palms, a
very common methodology, in settling ” Royal” crimes – Can the Police ever prove that
they are honest in dealing with high-ups, worth millions? How innocent are the AGs
Dept. staff?
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backlash / September 8, 2015
“…. political circles today expressed surprise at the sudden decision to conclude the investigation..” Political horse-play is not entirely dead under the Yahapalanaya administration. “You scrap my back and I yours” is an old age that will not die easily in politics.
Quid pro quo deals are taking place to keep the National Govt going is the comment of many in the know.
Backlash
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BBS Rep / September 8, 2015
If anyone thought that powerful political entities will face real justice in Sri Lanka, then they need to think again.
The rich and the powerful in Sri Lanka are linked together no matter what colour of flag they wave. It is a well entrenched club where every member scratches every other members back. The hapless and beguiled voter will alternate between hope and disillusionment till eternity.
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Sengodan. M / September 8, 2015
So, Gota has got away so easily? What is cooking in yahapalanaya?
Sengodan. ,
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Rohan / September 8, 2015
Gota has got away so easily?
Yeah, Got away, by Gota way! Cash up, rough up, ring up, and so on….
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justice / September 8, 2015
It appears that the AG has reversed his earlier decision completely on charges enumerated earlier.
Very strange to say the least.
Have palms been oiled, plus influence from the very top?
What price Yahapalanaya?
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Saman / September 8, 2015
This man is a cruel and wicked man.
Everyone knows who he is….
Anyhow this wicked man must be brought to justice and incarcerated for life.
We must punish this man because this is man who brutally punished our WAR HERO FIELD MARSHAL Sarath Fonseka.
This man behaved like a second president during his Brother was in power.
All three Commanders and IGP and all ministers and mps were very afraid of this wicked man.
This is man who illegally did arms deals and well corrupted man
This man must be severely punished.
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dot / September 8, 2015
so it was only a story spun to win some vote by the politicians to come into power and the voter believed and thought it was a full blown inquiry . Oh what a relief !!that it was no arms deal and the people concerned did not add to their bank accounts ..with tax payer money or monet earned by those who bring in valuable dollars by working in the ME under hard conditions .
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Jango / September 8, 2015
Wonder on what grounds the AG instructed the CID to halt the investigation? Shouldn’t he give valid reasons?
Smells a bit like rotting fish!
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Dowson / September 8, 2015
Well what can say? Its the master mind of those who born as dumbs like this BAYA GOTA(BAYA GOTA: A god to some uneducated loons in Sri Lanka) to play well with the tax rupee. Tax rupee investments for private trillion dream. I wonder where will his soul go after the death. to the hell ? no way hell is much more comfortable for a well reputed criminal like this mr.white van. How many single mothers are crying for their husbands disappearance. how many innocent Sinhalese & Tamils are suffering for master mind criminal activities this thug had done. still some SL fools are celebrating the war victory theory of brain washing.
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DJ / September 8, 2015
The law is in shambles, it’s run as a business. It’s very clear how most lawyers handle cases and what’s most shocking is the judges
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Ansar / September 8, 2015
I knew this was coming when I saw MARA seated next to MY3 and giggling in the Polonnaruwa stage. But I never thought, it will be so soon and so dramatic.
Please don’t do this MY3, we placed all our trust in you and propelled you to what you are today, from a virtual nobody.
The solemn pledge given by you was to prosecute all these MARA Family atrocities and that of their henchmen which includes MURDER,RAPE,TORTURE,WHITE VAN ABDUCTIONS AND COLOSSAL CORRUPTIONS.
We the people do not deserve this,just to protect your party and position. Do you want to fall into the same pit where MARA FAMILY AND HIS CLAN FELL?
I do not think so, please be prudent and be honest to yourself.
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words / September 8, 2015
We can arrive at two possible conclusions-
1) Gota was innocent as he always claimed to be, and this case, along with many more.. were just rubbish propaganda and mudsinging with the view of toppling the previous government OR
2) Gota is guilty.. and there is now a “deal ” to drop the case
either way- there is just ONE CONCLUSION on the current administration!!
YAHAPALANAYA STINKS !!
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Lankan / September 8, 2015
Yep..that’s the disturbing thing. A third
possibility is that the investigation was
botched through incompetence or poor methods.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / September 8, 2015
If they’d followed ‘Thalaivar’s process’ rather than due process there’d be far fewer monkeys screeching in agony here I’d wager :D
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Native Vedda / September 8, 2015
Wee Thamihz Siva Sankaran Sarma
“If they’d followed ‘Thalaivar’s process’ rather than due process there’d be far fewer monkeys screeching in agony here I’d wager :D”
It is still not late.
Put them in remand custody at Welikada Prison and send in the STF. Then get Black and Decker to justify on the basis that whoever is in the prison ought to be guilty of crime hence deserve to die.
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Kudu Jayaratne / September 8, 2015
After all the killings, abductions and mayhem, see what a vile smile on his bloody face. Just goes to show the sheer impunity and ‘catch me if you can” attitude of this psychopath.
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Paisa Must Appah / September 8, 2015
Good governnce and due process seem to be turning into a big joke now that the so called National Govt has been set up. In a day or two, the ranks will swell again with the appointment of another bunch of jokers as Deputy Ministers. More mayhem, more corruption and more closure of cases for ‘want of evidence’. What will work best for this country now is Sharia Law. Thats our only hope if we are going to ever get rid of this cycle of voter-deception.
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samare / September 8, 2015
Is not too early to say so ?
This is the not the only case that Mr Megalomaniac will have to be called for at SCID ? All these shold be informed to you right ?
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