(Lanka-e-News, 2007 August 16, 2.30 PM) The security provided by the government to the defense columnist Iqbal Athas has been removed immediately after he revealed a number of unknown facts of the deal to purchase four Mig-27 aircrafts through Sunday Times last week.
Athas pointed out in his column that the Ukraine government considers the Mig deal was a ruse since it was done through a third party, an unknown company named Belimissa Holdings registered in UK. However, Sri Lanka government attempted to show that the deal was between two states.
`The
MiG-27 procurement/overhaul Contract between the
Sri Lanka Air Force and Ukrinmash, a subsidiary of the Ukrainian Government owned trading arm Ukrspetsexport, was signed in Moscow on July 26, 2006. In that, Bellimissa Holdings Ltd., is described as the `Designated Party` and were touted as the `financier` of the deal. The Contract (article 24) gave the address of the firm as second floor, 145 - 157 St. John Street, London EC1V4PY,` Athas wrote in his article.
Athas further said, `The Sunday Times has re-confirmed that there is neither any staff nor an office facility at this address. The company has been listed in the Contract only with a fax number - (00) 44 870 8362430. There is no response to messages sent there. The names of Directors, beneficial shareholders or the company profile are not available anywhere. A leading UK publishing house was forced to conclude the company is non-existent except `on paper` and is `operating secretly.` This is because their detailed probe did not find a shred of evidence on the workings of the company.`
The Sunday Times Situation Report also points out that the contract has been signed just one day before July 27,2006 when Lanka Logistics and Technologies Limited, a wholly state owned limited liability company came into being to procure all equipment and services for the armed forces and the Police.
Athas ends his column with the following comment `In the more than two decades of separatist war, not one side has fully won completely defeating the other so far. Those who have won heavily are only those corrupt who have become billionaires and millionaires overnight through military procurements. They are both in uniform and outside it. The more successive Government leaders have pledged to deal with the corrupt the more things have remained the same. Nevertheless, the stakes have become higher and higher.
A vast segment of the population is reeling from the heavy burden placed on them by the mounting cost of living. Prices are rising daily. A few peons, clerks, constables and the like are being rounded up for taking a few hundred rupees.
However, those dabbling in millions of dollars or billions of rupees in military procurements get away in this paradise isle. The only casualties are those exposing them. They continue to become prime targets and many an embarrassed official want to hound them out. Little wonder, to some, war is big business.`
