Avant Garde issue: 150 foreign vessels turn down security from Sri Lanka?
Posted on November 14th, 2015
Adaderana
Around 150 foreign ships which had previously employed the services of Avant Garde Security Services have now informed the company that they would no longer seek protection from Sri Lanka as a result of the controversy surrounding establishment, an official said.
Manager of Commercial Vessel Protection, Lt Col (retd) Nilantha Jayaweera, stated that the firearms which were in the possession of Avant Garde have been obtained by the Southern Naval Command and that security can no longer be provided to the foreign vessels which were protected using those firearms.
He added that the voyages of 6 commercial vessels were delayed this morning due to the abrupt suspension of security services and that they were also unable to provide security to 2 fishing vessels in international waters.
The offices of the company which were operational in 5 countries have currently been closed down and that staff instructed to return to Sri Lanka, Jayaweera said.
However, responding to a query by Ada Derana, the Ministry of Defence refuted the claims that with the task of providing maritime security being handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy, the commercial vessels are stranded in international waters due to being unable to travel without protection.
Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said that around 37 vessels were provided security within yesterday alone and that the navy is handling the affairs of providing maritime security without any problems.
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) yesterday took possession of the firearms which were in the possession of Avant Garde Security Services (Pvt) Ltd.
November 14th, 2015 at 8:15 am
Can Sri Lanka Navy operate in International waters unlike the Avant Garde which was a private company? Sri Lanka will lose the little foreign exchange that the Navy personnel were earning. This is all due to the greed of various people who wanted to take over the Avant Garde for them selves. There was news report that Kili Mahendran wanted to set up his own Maritime security company and also Rajitha Senaratna who owns a fleet of fishing trawlers. The greed of these people seem to have no bounds.There is also a wish on the part of this Yahapalanaya to destroy everything President Mahinda Rajapakse had done whether good or bad. They should have built on what MR had done not destroy everything and start from scratch. These are people who have no ideas. They can only steal ideas from MR. At the end of the day their petty hatred is costing the country a lot of money. They lost a very bright Minister (Thilak Marapana) and will probably lose another bright one (Wijedasa Rajapaksa) leaving only the bunch of yes men in the Cabinet.
November 14th, 2015 at 10:28 am
I am not an Expert in the field of Maritime Security on the high seas.
However, I do not see how the SL Navy (however good at the work) can legally operate on the seas that are not a part allocated to Sri Lanka. Perhaps the SL Navy is guiding vessels ONLY through the sea parts allocated to Lanka ? Can someone make it clear for us ?
It is a pity that an apparently well run company, Avant Garde, seems to have been pulled down for petty reasons. This company has provided jobs for many people for a required service to shipping. This type of petty pulling down by Yahap GoSL does not auger well for private business in Sri Lanka.
November 14th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
ONE HAS TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES. THIS JEALOUS INSANE GRAMAYA HAS ABSOLUTELY NO VISION BEYOND THE HORIZON. HE WANTS TO DASH EVERYTHING INTO SMITHEREENS, THROUGH HATE FOR THE RAJAPAKSES. WHAT HAS HE DONE UPTODATE ? BEFORE THE ELECTION, HE SAID THAT HE WILL ABOLISH THE EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY. HAS HE DONE IT UPTO NOW ? NO. HE IS NOW VOWING AND BOW VOWING THAT HE WILL ABOLISH THE EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY, AS PER LAST WISHES OF THE LATE VENERABLE SOBITHA. ALL BULL SHIT. JUST TO PULL THE WOOL OVER THE PEOPLES EYES, AND KEEP ON FOOLING THEM. THATS HIS EXPERTISE, TELLING LIES ALL THE TIME.
November 14th, 2015 at 2:19 pm
Fantastic. Now the foolish UNP govt. will lose MORE FOREX and the country will go BANKRUPT.
“Bhangha wewa!!”
Pirates will attack ships coming to and going from Colombo port and FREIGHT charges will go up. SL exporters will GO BUST.
These ASSES are reversing everything GR did. Soon they will reverse the war VICTORY too.
November 14th, 2015 at 8:55 pm
It is utter shortsightedness and folly… and lack of a comprehensive understanding of what is involved!
Looks like the in-fighting between the Ministers led Sirisena to stop it by getting the Navy to handle it all.
As Fran Dias and Cerberus say, the SLNavy does not have legal rights to participate beyond Sri Lanka’s Maritime Boundary with Avant Garde. And per the Adaderana report, without the firearms issued and kept in the tugboat, security cannot be ensured.
So much financial loss for an already cash-strapped country!! THE INCOMPETENCE IS MIND BOGGLING!!
November 14th, 2015 at 10:50 pm
Lorenzo is so happy ! He want’s Sri Lanka “Bhangha wewa!!”
November 15th, 2015 at 12:53 pm
In dependent,
Can you remember one of your YAPA(LA)NAYA minister wrote a book DOOM GLOOM economy BEFORE the election? Now its our turn to say so.
Life is easy in the opposition. Don’t have to worry about floods, terrorists, economic disaster, etc. The more the merrier!
Ayyo Sirisena!
November 15th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Lorenzo,
OK. But don’t say Bhanga vewa to our country. Say Bhangaweva to UNP , TNA , LTTE or any other party, or person.
What is the happiness in sabotaging Sri Lankan economy to get another thief replace current thieves ? If you think Doom Boom man is good vote him in as he how it goes. If it doesn’t work vote for another bugger next time.
Bhangavewa is a hatred wish.
November 15th, 2015 at 3:33 pm
In dependent,
I said, “Fantastic. Now the foolish UNP govt. will lose MORE FOREX and the country will go BANKRUPT. “Bhangha wewa!!””
So it is primarily for the UNP GOVT. But what happens if you hold on to a metal when it is lightning?? IF the country want to be safe, LET GO this cursed UNP govt. Otherwise when the lightning strikes the UNP govt. the country and the people will also suffer. Throw this UNP govt. away before the next strike. Otherwise go down with it.