Video: 6,000 Avant Garde employees risk losing jobs

17 November 2015 12:32 pm - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Days after the operations of Avant Garde Maritime Security Limited (AGMSL) was taken over by the Sri Lanka Navy, thousands of its employees today claimed that they risked of losing their jobs.

AGMSL's Former Senior Manager of Commercial Vessels Protection Operations, Lt. Colonel (Rtd) Nilantha Jayaweera said despite legal assurances that the Avant Garde security firm had defence ministry clearance to operate, the taking over of the weapons on board “MV Mahanuwara” and “MV Avant Garde” would result in some 6,000 employees losing their jobs and it is totally unfair.

“The Avant Garde is being talked about by politicians who do not have any proof against our company. This company was established with the intention of providing a respectable and prosperous profession for those who retired from the tri-forces. By providing security to foreign vessels we were involved in earning a large amount of foreign exchange for our country,” he said.

“While our employees earned millions a month, we spent a large portion of our income for charitable works. Nearly 227 families having no links to either the tri-forces or to Avant Garde are dependent on the income we earn. The baseless allegations levelled against our company is a ruse to mislead the people and grab the ownership of our company,” Mr. Jayaweera claimed.

However, he said if the allegations were proved then Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd (RALL) should be prosecuted because Avant Garde is connected to agreements with RALL which had issued permission for all operations carried out by Avant Garde until last week.

Meanwhile, retired Navy Commander Nilupul De Silva who handled the operations of MV Avant Garde said the vessel was forcibly taken into Navy custody on Friday even though the AGMSL did not violate any maritime law.

He said the truth had been glossed over by a few powerful persons by painting a wrong picture in the people’s minds on the Avant Garde controversy.

They requested President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Health Minister, Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne and Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake to give them an opportunity to have a direct discussion on this matter before losing their jobs. (Piyumi Fonseka)

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Comments - 10

Goliwog Tuesday, 17 November 2015 06:12 PM

Avent Garde was operating under the very influential former government officer. He is gone and Avent Garde will also go. A good lesson, do not work for political backed organisations.

Sapu Tuesday, 17 November 2015 06:25 PM

No PMC should be private and is he expecting us to beleive they spent most of their income on charity? LOL

sene Tuesday, 17 November 2015 06:30 PM

I think by "charity work" he meant spending millions for a certain newspaper to praise the owner of Avant Garde

Goliwog Tuesday, 17 November 2015 06:31 PM

This company was dealing in arms. Is a similar company dealing is drugs also legal it it provided employment and foreign currency.

Bala Tuesday, 17 November 2015 06:49 PM

Then why did they go behind politicians. They have not refuted FM Fonseka's statement that they offered to finance his party this year. But if everything was legal how did they have guns with defaced identification numbers. Lot of other questions as well to be answered.

Ravi Tuesday, 17 November 2015 07:32 PM

Avant-garde majority employees are pensioners. Under what circumstances claim, 6000 employees are at risk of loosing jobs?. send them all to madamulan walauwa.

stardust Tuesday, 17 November 2015 07:36 PM

Illegal company. Legally finished off. So simple.

Gobbaya Tuesday, 17 November 2015 07:45 PM

Is this unofficial faces belonging to ?????

KaluSudha Wednesday, 18 November 2015 09:31 AM

""Well said""

Sisira Wednesday, 18 November 2015 10:14 AM

You are talking about 6000 we are talking about the future of 15 million Sri Lankans.

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Video: 6,000 Avant Garde employees risk losing jobs

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