The Ministry of Defence calls on academics to sit on Technical Evaluation Committees for defence purchases, gives them less than 24 hours to review documentation and then finally blames academics when things begin to go wrong, an ex-senior academic at the University of Moratuwa has claimed.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence
In response to a statement made in a speech by Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa who said that many national professionals leave Sri Lanka for higher paying jobs abroad, Dr. Thrishantha Nanayakkara, a senior lecturer at the Moratuwa University between 2003-2007, said he and fellow academics were often called to sit on TECs of the Ministry of Defence. Dr. Nanayakkara said often those committees were chaired by Defence Secretary himself. ”
“Very often the documents to be reviewed were delivered on the same day the TEC meeting was held depriving us of enough time to do a credible review. Very often, I had only the time during the ride from Moratuwa to ministry of defense to review the documents. Due to the urgency of many such purchasing decisions, we signed those documents based on complete trust in Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the chair of the committee,” he explains.
But Dr. Nanayakkara notes that it was very unfortunate that the Ministry of Defence itself took to exposing the names of professionals and the recommendations of those TECs when things went wrong. “It seemed to us that the professionals who were kept in the darkness whole throughout the TEC process were just used as a cleansing shield in the event things go wrong. I am not alone in this concern. One can check with any academic in the University system in Sri Lanka on this,” he explains.
Responding to the fraud said to have taken place when purchasing MIG 27 fighters for Sri Lanka Air Force, the Ministry of Defence exposed the names of the Technical Evaluation Committee.
According to the MOD the members of the MIG TECs were, Air Marshal Roshan Goonethilake (Chairman), Air Commodore EGJP de Silva (Director Aeronautical Engineering SLAF), a Senior Lecturer from the University of Moratuwa, Mr. HD Weerasiri (Accountant- Ministry of Defence), Mr. VJ Premarathne (Deputy Director Airworthiness- Civil Aviation Authority), and Mrs. KDR Olga (Accountant-Department of National Budget).
Ummu Hana / October 26, 2013
//But Dr. Nanayakkara notes that it was very unfortunate that the Ministry of Defence itself took to exposing the names of professionals and the recommendations of those TECs when things went wrong. “It seemed to us that the professionals who were kept in the darkness whole throughout the TEC process were just used as a cleansing shield in the event things go wrong.//
Professionals are deserved for blame if they are not up to the ethics. If they sign just because of the trust of Chairman, then the question arises whether they accept payment for it.If the professors are paid for such a referral review then deserve to dis-credit.
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Sumith / October 26, 2013
/* Dr. Nanayakkara said often those committees were chaired by Defence Secretary himself. “ */
@ Ummu Hana,
You may not truly understand the system in Sri Lanka. When somebody like Defence Secretary himself chairs the session there is not much room for TEC to be independent. -:)
You would assume mostly the decision would have been already made to whom the contract would be awarded. It is just matter of getting TEC to put their signature for the document. -:)
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jansee / October 26, 2013
Then why the hell you want to be part of such a committee and be a rubber stamp and now cry foul? These nominations are for ensuring the credibility in such purchases but looks like this guy did not even read fully what he signed for. What a joke.
/
Sumith / October 27, 2013
Good question.
See what is happening to ex-CJ who was not part the UPFA agenda.
See what happened Nandana Ismail.
You dont’ really don’t know what is happening in ground for those who won’t be part of UPFA corrupt circle.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / October 27, 2013
Ummu Hana,/ Jansee;
Do You want WHITE VAN TREATMANT????.
IF You do not sign your Death Warrant , We know how to get it.
Remember You Have Family to Feed?.
We are there to do a Job Contract. do not forget that.
Have you been to a SREEEEE LANKA Police station?. To complain or any thing.
They write and YOU SIGN.
YOU MUST SIGN.
After They can remove some part and write again and paste it top of the original also.
And BLOODY CHEATING JUDGES ACCEPT THOSE TOO.
So you keep quit and sign, O K.
JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA [I R C Double].
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Yasodara Fukushima / October 26, 2013
You see hoe smart out Def Sec Mr Gota is?
No one can escape from him. Most of these
acadamics are rogues and liars although they support
this democratically elected governtment.
No hanky panky with Mr Gotabaya. He knows every trick in the book
because he is a genius and a computer wizard.
he clean the Tamils, now he is busy cleaning the Muslims and then he will clean the Sinhala Elite.
Well done Mr Gota. Keep cleaning we will vote for your family.
Our only hope is you and we will keep voting for you even when we starve. No one can stop your journey. You need thugs as well as some yes men in the parliament in order to achive your goal. We will vote all of them Sir.
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mike / October 27, 2013
…. and finally this bugger GOATa will vote himself out!
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Fathima Fukushima / October 26, 2013
So Trashantha had a hand in the MIG deal which ultimately killed Tamils.
Now he is trying to save himself.
Kothapaya trying to save his skin by blaming Trashantha.
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Thrishantha / October 26, 2013
Yes, the travel cost was covered, and Rs. 2000 was given as a fee, that was channeled to the Rana Viru charity by the ministry of defense itself when we did not accept the money. Yes, we take the blame for signing on trust. But, given the circumstances, if we didn’t sign, we would not live today and the whole country would call our dead bodies to be dead traitors for delaying urgent purchasing decisions for professional arrogance. It almost happened to me at one instance, where Gotabaya signed the document before I signed, forcing me (the junior officer) to sign. We tolerated enough. Not any more.
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David / October 26, 2013
Yes Trishantha, You are correct. If our beloved Muniya followed your way he would still have been with us. Your lucky to do that way
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Thrishantha / October 28, 2013
David, I know this much about Amith’s death. He was sick even before leaving to Israel. But he was convinced to go because nobody else was available at that time. Amith and all of us questioned these purchases to the best of our ability within the time frame and information given to us. It is not true that Amith was a pain in the eyes of the ministry of defense. And it is not true that others were compliant. If he was a pain, the MoD would simply avoid him without appointing him in TECs.
Everybody had concerns about the limited time given to review documents, but did their best to serve the role they were given. And it is true that all of us relaxed our boundaries to engage in projects because Sri Lanka didn’t have specialists to serve in every niche area. For instance, I tried to test Mongoose (Mugatiya) to detect land mines when it was not my main area. Amith tried many things when they were not his main area, just because there was no other option given the situation.
When Amith was seriously ill in Israel, he had been taken to a hospital. The team there had done everything possible to save his life. So, it is unfair to put the blame of Amith’s death on the ministry of defense in general.
/
Ummu Hana / October 26, 2013
So are we to betray our own self respect! and dignity!! and endorse all what the Chairman do!!!…
Then its just like the Pharaoh era stories!
God Bless Sri Lanka!!!
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mahasohon / October 26, 2013
Umma Hana, be realistic. You can shout and play the integrity card for show, because you are not in the Blessed Country. If you are there and involved, you would do exactly as this academic did. Be under the mantle of Gotta, you live in fear. That is the Sri Lankan reality today. The only ones who live feeling freedom are the ones most remote from Gotta, and have never heard of him, as ignorance is bliss. No profesional who is in Midas’ Touch (or curse) live in fear and anxiety; even the General was outsmarted by his bag carrier (see the photos taken during wartime staff visits) at the inauspicous moment.
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mahasohon / October 26, 2013
Correction ….. my inout above should read, “No profesional who is in Midas’ Touch (or curse) lives free from fear and anxiety ….”
Apologies!
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A. Friend / October 26, 2013
Now you are bluffing Trisha. There are enough academics in Sri Lanka who knew the culture of this government and stayed away without getting involved and they are still alive. So, dont tell it’s because of security. You willingly collaborated and now screwed. I feel sorry for you.
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Agnos / October 26, 2013
Trishantha,
Your predicament was understandable. Were academics called on to be part of such committees based on their specific expertise, or just because they were in engineering? For instance, your specialty in robotics would have been useful with certain things, but an evaluation of fighter jets would have required an academic in aeronautical engineering. To my knowledge, we don’t have aeronautical engineering programs at Sri Lankan universities, though aspects of it would have been covered within mechanical engineering.
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Thrishantha / October 26, 2013
Very true. First I thought it was about some automation, sensing and control, etc. but when I realized that it was about a complete jet, I told that I don’t belong in that committee. Then I was told that the most relevant academics were out if the country at the moment and that this was urgent. Add to that, I was told that the Air Force will look after the technical aspects. They needed an academic as an observer. Well, I was not happy with this observer position when Air Force officers started to suddenly come to my residence to get urgent signatures to big documents. When asked to explain what the document contained, they often told me that only this bit and that bit is relevant to me. Then I realized the full story when things started to appear on media. My whole point here is that Gota or anybody in the Govt should not abuse academics or professionals like that. When I saw Gota’s speech, it was like “vadi bana” for me. I wrote the above article to warn all the professionals out there who could be future victims. Well, if they care.
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mahasohon / October 27, 2013
This is the craziest story that I have heard. Any idea how many specialists of different scientific domains are involved in selecting a sophisticated aircraft & weapons system in a Western Country? Several scores! Here, a totally unqualified mech eng/academic/researcher has underwritten the justififcation on behalf of several scores of non-existent specialists, like buying a pound of “thondaya” from the pingo-man. This chap is no genius but a mortal caught up in a whirlpool beyond his depth. Thank goodness that this story is coming out. Clearly the one’s who told him to sign should face the High Court. But who would take them to court. Hopeless!!!
PS: The Procurement Agency for the MoD has been playing this charade of appearances.. It would have been more acceptable to the public, if they simply said that there was war and that they had to act fast to acquire whatever the weapons system to deal with the enemy.
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PalmSquirrell / October 27, 2013
Well you are standing up for what is right and setting the record straight is brave, because we all know there are repercussions for showing Gota in a bad light, even though it is the truth.
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Sunil Perera / October 27, 2013
Thrishantha
Here’s Gen.Sarath Fonseka clearly tells how Gota gets commission from Illegal Arms Purchase and the reason for him to fell our with Gota.
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2009/12/06/%E2%80%9Cwhy-i-fell-out-with-the-rajapaksas%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%93-general-sarath-fonseka-
explains
Here’s some video clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShNJ5mE-P9k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=2tV8vNH5lCg&list=PL50429C88A25CAC16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kNRo9JKGa8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE1ILTct528
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYJRfp5GEpQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5UttCf_Mf4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ek5rNoRA_M
More to follow.
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Javi / October 27, 2013
“To my knowledge, we don’t have aeronautical engineering programs”
There are aeronautical engineering BTech boys but they are in different professions. An academic would provide an idealistic proposal while a professional would necessarily offer a realistic one. It seems he wasn’t looking for either.
Now a days its Space Engineering (Astro+Aero).
Anyway, what’s the prick Gotas son doing in the US? Space what?
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Spring Koha / October 27, 2013
Dr Thrishantha, you are to be congratulated for saying ‘enough is enough’ and getting out. What you have described is standard ‘fixing’ modus. All the paper work is complete and signed by appropriate names. Everything is in ‘order’ and the deal goes through quickly and those in the ‘fix’ get their loot – preferably to an account overseas. Nice work if you can get it. That is how people on Rs 75,000 a month are able to enjoy millionaire life styles. There are many true stories but I better be careful or I might end up in a white van with a one way ticket to Matale.
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Fathima Fukushima / October 28, 2013
Dear Trashantha thanks for the reply.
Isn’t it better to be dead with dignity and righteousness than live like a war criminal?
You were involved in defence purchases that killed over 40,000 Tamils!!
No one can sign for such a crime even under duress.
Why? Why? Why?
Tamils are so cursed!
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Le GoodFella / October 28, 2013
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Backlash / October 26, 2013
Dr. Nanayakkara deserves public plaudit for his bold statement. Most of these Tender Committees now are mere name-sakes and frauds. GR sitting in the Committee itself is improper and calculated to deceive.
Officials are frightened they may lost their jobs – the livelihood to maintain their families – if they express their expert views freely.
These are further evidences of a failed Society which the regime and its side-kicks continue to deny.
Backlash
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Upul / October 26, 2013
Gotabaya Rajapakse talking about Ethics and blah blah blah!
Why are we even wasting our time and energy? A crook is a crook is a crook! Just because he says he is not, we are supposed to believe?
Can someone run a check on assets owned by the Gotabaya Rajapakse family in the United States, Hong Kong and Singapore and let meknow how he managed that with his salary?
Oops, I am sorry it was the dowry his son got. Really?
I do not know the man and do not wish to know him, power or not. When he starts to preach and pontificate like the rest of us Lankans are morons,then I take issue. Take your bribes, kill a few people, destroy what you can of my country but eventually you will die. One person, or one family means nothing to a nation’s history. It is just a traffic bump! We will recover.
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Backlash / October 26, 2013
Correction – Calculated to INTIMIDATE – not deceive. I also regret some of the spelling mistakes.
Backlash
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JimSofty / October 27, 2013
Me too, in my postings.
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Lankan / October 27, 2013
What right as Got-a-baya got to comment about professionals going abroad. He himself ran from Sri Lanka during the LTTE war as he was scared. Further how can anyone review documents and give an un-bias opinion on the same day they get the papers. This clearly shows that Got-a-baya wants to manipulate the process. Further where are all the weapons going? Are they being loaded on to the floating armory owned by Got-a-baya and his friends and sold illegally?
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JimSofty / October 27, 2013
This is Simply Dr. Nanayakkara’s bad blood.
2005 – 2007 waas the LTTE WAr period. these people themselves would have passed the messages to the LTTE – supporters.
The Trishantha Nanayakkara criticizes the govt, he certainly would double cross the govt.
Only thing is I did not see, yet, him blaming Sinhala Buddhists and Safron – clad monks for every thing in Sri Lanka.
IF Dr. Nanayakkara says 24 hours was not sufficient for reviewing security related purchases during the war, he is simply not suitable to sit in those committees.
/
Point of View / October 27, 2013
What are your credentials, Softy ? O/Ls ?
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PalmSquirrell / October 27, 2013
Didn’t you read above where he says he was pressured to sign despite him stating he was not qualified to assess the technical aspects of a jet.
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Sumith / October 27, 2013
/* IF Dr. Nanayakkara says 24 hours was not sufficient for reviewing security related purchases during the war, he is simply not suitable to sit in those committees. */
ha! ha! JimSOfty is a genious. -:)
million $ worth of equipment Technical Assesment if not done in 24hrs it is incompetency. -:)
JimSOfty should a typical water buffalo from Hambanthota. -:)
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / October 27, 2013
What about you????.
Your types are the most dangerous Backstabbers.
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Nimas / October 27, 2013
I know Trishanta [Edited out]This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Thrishantha / October 27, 2013
If Rs. 2000 for a whole evening of sitting in a meeting is consultancy for you, I can’t help. But I want to help those future victims who would think of sacrificing their time for National efforts, when in fact they are used as sacrifice (like in Bali-tovil).
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JimSofty / October 27, 2013
Thrtishantha should consider inviting him to review defence related purchases during an active war as some privilege that he received.
Instead, he criticizes the process and how much he was offered.
What a, selfish, self -centred and ungrateful man.
think about if soldiers refused to go to war because they were not paid enough.
/
JimSofty / October 28, 2013
These are the people who expect 100% from the politicians.
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Fathima Fukushima / October 28, 2013
You bring that up only AFTER so many Tamils were killed by those purchases!!
You still call it a “national effort” without calling it genocide.
Oh! Tamils are so doomed!
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JimSofty / October 27, 2013
My very honest opinion is that Trishantha Nanayakkara should be thankful to the govt because the govt gave him an opportunity to involve in these.
He was educated just because of govt money (GOVT IS PEOPLE). So, he is obliged to do something in turn for that money.
This Fcuking [Edited out]
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Point of View / October 27, 2013
What did you do in return, Softy ? I don’t think you even made use of the education which was given to you for free !!!
What a waste of a human being and a liability to the society !!!!
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Banda / October 27, 2013
Thank you Thrishantha for signing that paper at that time as otherwise purchase of MIG 27 may have dragged on and Thamil Selvan may not have faced his timely death. Your signature may well have contributed to pluck out Selvam, a mass killer terrorist without letting him extend his life another term.
In my opinion, an honest and educated patriot like you, should have the will to face any drawback and remain in the country doing whatever you have started and continue contributing the war efforts at least till the war end. Thereafter, you could have carried your complain baggage with you and left the country. You could have had the satisfaction that you have done your part to defeat the terrorists. But you have done neither.
I remember you writing here sometime back that you have left the country halfway through your mongoose project. That means, not only you have abandoned your project but ran away from your much bragged war efforts when it was needed the most. As for Gotta, he came back, he fought a war, he faced adversaries, and he won it. That’s the difference between you and him.
You can open your complain baggage wide as you want, only rump LTTE and their backers would buy it and sing hosannas for you.
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Sumith / October 27, 2013
Gota ran away scared of LTTE.
Thrishantha ran away scared of Gota. (like mnay others like Jansz, Nandana Ismail etc.
Don’t you see the parallel here ? -:)
/
Spring Koha / October 27, 2013
Careful Banda! Our thala-thel ‘cousins’ in the north could have been sorted out very much earlier. But we had too many people (in higher places) making big bucks in the wanni so it was not possible to do to VP what was done quickly to the JVP in 1989. Fact: many properties were bought overseas with profit from the Eelam wars. (Shame you couldn’t get one Banda.) Don’t ask why Gottya took a sabbatical in the US….you will only hear lies. Dr Thrishantha, don’t feel too guilty about the accusation of ‘running away’ – you are not alone. The sons and daughters of many of our rich and famous managed to ‘go overseas for higher studies’ even though they were as thick as two planks. If you remember, when the war was being fought in the north, we were having tamashas and christmas dances in the south. What to do?
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Anthonio / October 27, 2013
A ‘Copper Mafia’, operating mainly from Pettah in Colombo, is (-copper-mafia-robs-rs-4-billion.) \ PETTAH THE SRI LANKAN CHOR BAZAR-A DANGEROUS PLACE TO MESS WITH ABOUT – A WELL OPERATED MAFIA DEN, SUPPORTED BY VERY POWERFUL PEOPLE, MONEY LAUDERING IS ONE OF THE MAIN BUSINESS, TEXITLE of MAFIA MERCHANTS IMPORTS 60 TO 100 -20 FOOT CONTAINERS AT A TIME WITH ALMOST ZERO DUTY, CRIPLLING SRI LANKA’S REVENUE, GOLD SMUGLLING TO INDIA (DESTROYING THE INDIAN ECNOMY) ALL NGO PRODUCTS, MACINERY ETC, MEDICAL EQUIPEMTS, GOVERNMENTS PRODUCTS ALL ROBBED AND TRADED, NO INCOME TAX PAID, PETTAH THE CURSE OF SRI LANKA’S ECONOMY FAILURE, STRANGE THE DEFENCE MINISTRY IS IGNORING THIS .. ==============================
nation.lk ::: – COPPER MAFIA ROBS Rs 4 BILLION
http://www.nation.lk
Customs Department bamboozledNo security mechanism to trace illegal exports A ‘Copper Mafia’, operating mainly from Pettah in Colombo, is illegally ex …
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Anthonio / October 27, 2013
PETTAH NEEDS TP BE TAKEN OVER AND CLEANED UP BEFORE DOING ANYTHING IN SRI LANKA –
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citizen / October 27, 2013
Unfortunately these Academics when invited to sit on the TEC do it willingly because they want to get into good books of the ruling party as well as make an extra buck. If they have any ethics or are professionals they should refuse to sit on the TEC. People who are educated and holding high positions are not expected to sign away any document because he likes the face of the chairman. At the end of any contract the responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of the TEC and if the members are not aware of it they don’t deserve to sit on the TEC.
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The Professional / October 27, 2013
Dr. Nanayakkara appears to have not understood the difference between “urgent purchases”, “special purchases” and “routine purchases”. Being an academic he must have thought that all purchases for armed forces during a war are just routine. It could have been so if there was no war. During a war strategic planning is very important and some strategies need fast tracked logistical operations, which may require urgent purchases. Professionals know this and they are familiar with TEC Procedures for urgent purchases be it from a single source or from a lawful and a resourceful middleman for many sources. During a war purchasing MIG-27s and ammunition etc., are not similar to purchasing food, medicines and fuel etc., for maintaining buffer stocks.
GR chairing the Tender Boards of the Ministry of Defense is not a violation of Tender Procedure in the Country. Procurement of goods and services above the expenditure ceiling specified for Ministerial Tender Boards, are handled by Cabinet Appointed Tender Boards and TECs generally the Secretary to the subject Ministry responsible for expenditure is appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers as the Chairman of the Tender Board for the specific procurement.
Professionals participating in a TEC meant for urgent purchases for war strategy need to make their recommendations fast. I am not an expert in Aeronautical Engineering nor am an expert in Mechanical Engineering. I presume that in this particular purchase, those aspects were attended to by the Air Force Personnel in the TEC. Therefore Dr. Thrishantha Nanayakkara does not have to complain about 24-hour time frame.
May be he is from a school that produces saints. I vividly recall Dr. Nanaykkara describing his school life in Galle in one of his previous articles in CT. Galle has three boys’ schools. Two of them are well known for producing saints and the other for producing devils. The way he has painted his fear indicates that he is not from the boys’ school that is known for producing devils. If so he is a misfit to serve in a TEC appointed to evaluate urgent purchases for a war strategy.
While apologizing for being critical of his response I kindly request Dr. Nanayakkara to spend sometime in a military library in the country of his current residence and get some idea on logistical aspect of strategic planning in the midst of a war with particular attention to time available for implementation for strategies. Then he will realize how difficult it would have been for battle commanders and service commanders if necessary logistics were not in place at right times at right places. Urgent purchases therefore need to be looked at from fast tracking. However Dr. Nanayakkara does not need to regret. His signature has helped winning the war at last.
/
kabaragoya / October 27, 2013
How much were you paid to write this legal rubbish? Can you explain how Goat became Secretary in the first place and his credentials for this job besides being the brother to the goat of all goats?
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tokka / October 28, 2013
It seems that the response has been written by a defence attache.
Irrespective of that, the response regarding fast tracking of opeartionall essential materiel at times of war is correct. In Sri Lanka it is a fact that only those in the air force has suffcient technical knowledge to evaluate competing products against user requirements, something a defence ministry scientists usually do in western countries. SLK has no such infrastructure. In war fast tracking is allowed even in western countries.
At the time only China and countries from the former USSR were willing to sell suitable aircraft, so I guess there was hardly any competition.
It was a pity that TN had not been given a proper briefing about his role, and that amounts to a lack of professionalism on the part of the Chairman of the Board. TN, on his own account of events, might have signed without a clear comprehension of his role, purely for effects (or props, if one wishes to say it).
Whatever, it is water under the bridge now. It does not matter, as the purpose for buying Mig-27 as a weapons platform against the enemy has been satisfactorily met.
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Thrishantha / October 28, 2013
Dear “The professional”,
Next time when you appoint people to TEC committees, please be professional yourself. Appoint people for a professional reason not as a cover up strategy. Why would you appoint an academic in a completely unrelated area in a very fuzzy role called “observer” in a committee with no other professionals with some technical knowledge about the subject? Even if there was a need of an “observer”, he/she should be briefed clearly as to what their role was right? There was no such briefing. Only random officers coming to get signatures to documents with short notice. Fortunately, the question here was not the technical soundness of the jets, but the technical term used to catagorize the purchase as “Government to Government” right? If that was not true, then, you people cheated me at the point of appointment right? Be honest here.
Regarding schools in Galle, it seems that you have some grudge. All schools in Galle produce citizens who can come out with honesty and confess any wrong-doing in public without fear. That is exactly what I doing. I take the blame for continuing to be in that committee with a fuzzy definition of my role in the name of the country, when in fact I was just a sacrifice (like in Bali-Tovil). I do apologize the public for that.
If your logic was right about defense secretary becoming the chairman for such large purchases, why was he not the chairman only for this purchase? Think with your professional knowledge.
/
The Professional / October 29, 2013
Dear Dr. Nanayakkara,
Sorry for my not being able to wipe your tears because you are faraway in USA.
From the info I gathered by reading novels on espionage and terrorism, legal arms deals do not materialize without an end user certificate. When it is a buyer-seller agreement between two governments that issue does not arise. In the early stages of the war it was common knowledge that no foreign country was prepared to sell us arms and procurement had to be through agents or third parties. Still it was legal because end user certificates were issued by GOSL.
As regards schools in Galle, I have no grudge against them at all. Classification of them into saints and devils was the idea of a good friend of mine, who played cricket and soccer at a Galle school and later Division One Cricket in Galle. He has his own reasons and a puckish sense of humour and he talked about this classification in the presence of a few Galleans from other Galle schools.
I have done my part in TECs during my career in the state sector professionally and I had had the opportunity to get expert advice from Academics officially with the permission of the Tender Boards on issues, which the collective knowledge of officially appointed TEC members was insufficient.
I value your freedom to write and expect same from you regarding my freedom to comment. You stirred up the hornet’s nest by exercising your freedom to write in the public domain about your private feelings of being cheated and therefore you have to enjoy the music of reverberations whether you like it or not.
Whatever it is please focus on your research on robotics and do some good work. I wish you success at Harvard U.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / October 27, 2013
” Urgent purchases therefore need to be looked at from fast tracking”.
What about Fast tracking of Cheating and commission grabbing from Sri Lankan people’s Coffers.
Do not Talk Bull Shit Man;
When you talk with money, Every Tom and Harry like Shit eating pigs, JARAPASSAs want FAST TRACKING.
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Sunil Perera / October 27, 2013
Did President Rajapakse got help and advise from Professionals and Academics when they Built Hambanthota Harbor and Mattala Airport. Who advised them and why they were completed before their time period. Doubt even if the Parliament was notified on these projects.
Many questions to answer.
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Sirimal / October 28, 2013
Sunil@
very same q I asked myself immediately got to read about the Casino bill being passed. But I have no idea why the opposition together with masses could NOT stop this bill. Me being out of the country, I see thing totally different. And no idea the very same man who vehemently opposed casinos decades ago to allow this getting passed…. may be MR has lost the control of coalition today.
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hannah.rajaratnam / October 27, 2013
Trishantha,
In your present situation you cannot get back to Sri Lanka.Reading your article and explanations given you are indeed getting into more of a mess.
In your article GOTA invited u with others to serve on this panel.In those days amongst the singhala south it was huge to be invited by Gota.He is the demi god the south worshipped and some still are.
You read such a ‘confidential article’ on the ride to work.How stupid that was.What if? and the confidential Defense document fell into someone else’s hands.Strike one down.Then you say you signed it without reading the document because you did not have the time? stupid action.You say you were forced by some defense officials who came to your home to get your signature pointing to ‘this and that’.
Anyways you had to sign it whether you read it or not,whether you liked it or not,you were already in it and Gota had given you limited time.You would have been white vanned if you didn’t sign.You would have dared NOT do otherwise.
When you returned to Sri Lanka from Radcliff/Harvard USA,with your M.Sc ( Hope I am right)you were a stooge of the government in the East coast,US – so I was told.Naturally on your return GOTA expected favors from you and you had no choice but to follow orders.
You signed documents and was happy as a lark – The Human Rights Violations by activists hit the bill boards in Sri Lanka,ill winds started blowing over Sri Lanka.
You and your friends who signed the document to procure more arms etc that blasted thousands of innocent Tamil civilians got cold feet. You obviously feared you were going to be dragged in as ‘human rights violators’ down with the regime.
SF was thrown into prison for fear he will spill the beans.Our only 4 star general.You panicked and left for UK.
You say your names have been given out by Gota.He had a reason.
Probably you thought this was going to remain ‘confidential’.some on this thread feel you are honest to come out with details.
Bear with me.If I were you,I will wait till Iam called to explain.Then I will put my cards on the table.
Being in UK you think you have the right to spill these.Unfortunatley you have made several mistakes.You seem to be asking for support.
If you are honest in what you are saying on this message board then God will give you the time to defend yourself.Spend your time preparing ‘that’document.
Till such time it will best for you to lay off this subject- for your own sanity,treat this as a personal vendetta between you and the Ministry of Defense,Sri Lanka.
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Fathima Fukushima / October 28, 2013
One good thing Trashantha did was to approve those purchases so SL could get rid of racist Tamils.
Thank you sir!
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chandra / October 28, 2013
It is regrettable and unfortunate that Dr Nanayakkara thought it fit to “expose” himself in such a manner at this juncture.
He is not alone. There are a number of people, Sri Lankans (including members of the present regime) and none Sri Lankans who have far more damaging evidence but “bite their teeth” and preserve to a certain extent their credibility until the “right” questions are asked of them and they would not lie.
It’s just a matter of time when the “shit hits the fan”.
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Anthony / October 28, 2013
STILL THE BULK OF YOU SINHALESE DO OT WANT TO ADMIT OPENLY HOW MUCH ALL OF YOU WORSHIP GOTA DISCREETLY- WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT THE MAN HAS GIVEN YOU SINHALESE EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED-
1) WIPE OUT THE LTTE , (BY CHOPPING THE PIG FLESH LAID OVER THE PIGS BACK)
2) WIPE OUT THE MUSLIM BUSINESS MAN
3) INCREASE THE SINHALA MAJORITY IN COLOMBO
4) BULLY THE MUSLIMS WHENEVER YOU ARE BORED, BREAK A FEW MOSQUES.
5) HIT RIGHT ON THE STOMACHS OF THE MUSLIMS – SCREW THE BUGGERS DIETARY –
6) NEXT & LAST AFTER THE general election spare the good looking women & Kill the men -like Pharaoh- and The Saudi will give you guys 500 million dollars – like to Burma. so wait patiently two more years.
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Anthony / October 28, 2013
Fathima Fukeshima’s cxxxxxnt not wanted in Sri Lanka -it is contaminated .
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citizen Silva / November 1, 2013
I wonder who in the defence ministry is this “The Professional” – why he does make himself sound so professional with all that legal jargon. There are so many people employed under MoD and even if 90% of them will not open their mouths to voice their opinions publicly, they do so with their friends and word gets around – For those who dont know , let me tell you, this is the way MoD does tenders even now – there is no war any more (except war of plundering the country)- There are actually no TEC sittings or discussions in most cases – “some one” writes the reports, discussions are held with contractors/ suppliers even before selections are made. And finally document is taken for signatures of TEC memebers – and HEY they sign too.
MoD also produces professional thro their Kotalawela Academy too – their standard and quality of work is another story- its the kith and kin of uniformed people who get selected to that University. I am yet to see one of their products who will stand as a true professional without bending over backwards to accommodate their bosses and say YESSIR YESSIR
And Military in the Govt institutions – thats another joke – in some cases its is said that the purpose is to discipline the employees. I see one guy who gets off the the big 4 W drive in the morning ( well past 0830 too)and walks waving his hands like a ruggerite. A peon follows meekly behind carrying his bag and lunch. what a joke in a country where we have seen professionals like Dr ANS Kulasinghe carrying his own attach case and waiting at the lift with other employees.
This is Kaliyuga times
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citizen Silva / November 1, 2013
Dear Gotabhaya,
When you want to win a war – arm your self with goodd dedicated and well trained military officers.
When you want to do engineering work – get good engineers who know their works – not those who just bend in half and say yesyes and agree to all nonsense that cohorts around you say. These rascals ruin you.
There is much more to administration & engineering than military training – there must be a free & unfettered exchange of ideas and views
Turn back and look – we had much better administration before the war ruined it all.
Those who stand around and admire you, are leading you to the hell hole- once you fall in, the’ll be the first to say “I told him not to do that”
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