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by Ranil Wijayapala

The three member committee probing suspicious arms procurement during the former regime has recommended the CID to commence investigations into 1998 Zimbabwe arms' deal.

"This follows observations of financial irregularities when purchasing ammunition for the Sri Lanka Army," Committee Chairman Dulinda Weerasuriya told the "Daily News" yesterday.

The committee investigated the transaction of three major arms procurements which included six MI 24 helicopters, a C 130 Hercules transport aircraft and 80 mm and 120 mm mortars for the forces.

The committee also recommended further investigations into the purchase of an aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The committee report has been submitted to Defence Minister Tilak Marapone.

"Several discrepancies were observed in the Zimbabwe arms deal which was a Government to Government agreement. What was startling was that despite an 80 per cent payment, 90 per cent of the consignment agreed upon had not been brought to the country," Weerasuriya said.

The Zimbabwean company had airlifted the first three small consignments of mortar bombs and made arrangements to transport the other 90 per cent of the order by ship.

The officials are alleged to have made arrangements to pay the balance payment despite army warning that the ammunition consignment were not upto technical specifications.

Bank of Ceylon had also advised officials that the Government was not bound to pay the balance since the Letter of Credit submitted to the financial transaction had expired.

There is also concern as to why payments were made to a Korean international company despite the deal being a Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe Government transaction. 

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