Fonseka’s Hicorp Ad misleading - Indatissa
Wasantha Ramanayake
British Borneo Defence Australia (BBD Australia) had confirmed it
never supplied arms and ammunition to the Sri Lanka Army said
Attorney-at-Law Kalinga Indatissa at a media briefing at the Sri Lanka
Foundation Institute, yesterday.
Attorney-at-Law Indatissa claiming that certain points raised in an
advertisement published in a certain Sunday newspaper with regard to
Hicorp arms dealings were false and said that the BBD (Australia) never
had a branch in the US. He said the British Borneo which supplied arms
to the Sri Lanka Army was actually the trade name under which Hicorp
International INC. owned by Sarath Fonseka’s son-in-law Danuna
Tillakaratne carried on its business in Oklahoma, USA.
He said the Hicorp International INC was incorporated in the USA on
November 10, 2005 and carried out its business under the trade name
British Borneo Defence. Indatissa producing certain documents as proof
said these documents had been placed before Parliament.”Upul Ilangamage
has filed a case in the USA against Danuna for forging his signature,”
he said.Indatissa said Hicorp (Pvt) Ltd. which was registered in the
country wanted to show that they were the agents for BBD(Australia)
since Hicorp Pvt. Limited lacked three years experience for bidding to
supply arms and ammunition to the Army. “BBD (Australia) only came here
to make a presentation and thereafter they never marked their presence
here,” he claimed.
“Later, Hicorp International INC owned by Danuna Thilakaratna
carrying on its business under the trade name British Borneo Defence
supplied equipment to the Army,” Indatissa claimed. “As lawyers we have
a duty to expose the truth and people have the right to know,” Indatissa
said.
Attorney-at-Law Ali Sabry said the Government had laid down clear
guidelines for the purchase of equipment and it is not ethical to sit in
a tender board for a person if somebody known to him or one of his
relatives is bidding.
He said the then Army Commander Sarath Fonseka could approve
procurement of equipment below the value of Rs. 25 million. “The deal is
per se corrupt when Fonseka awarded such tenders to Hicorp International
INC. owned by his son-in-law, carrying on its business under the trade
name British Borneo Defence,” he charged.
Attorney-at-Law Kanshika de Alwis alleged that Danuna has made an
application to the Secretary of State of Oklahoma to delete his name as
the registered agent of the Hicorp International when the matters began
to surface here. |