DM article on Navy comes to limelight in Parliament

“This government has already gone down in history as the regime which had deceived people the most” 

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Daily Mirror story titled ‘Sri Lanka Navy struggles to meet modern maritime standards’ published on August 15 came into limelight in Parliament yesterday when SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa referred to it in order to highlight an issue pertaining to suppressing drug trafficking.  

“The article states that the Sri Lankan Navy is set to reduce its strength to 40,000 by 2030. The Sri Lankan Navy has to be modernized to prevent trafficking across the seas. It has to be equipped with modern technology in order to achieve this task. However, the government is out to reduce the strength of the Navy. This government has already gone down in history as the regime which had deceived people the most. Very soon the present government will be known as’ Kudu anduwa (drug trafficking government,” he said.  

“The Customs Department has allowed two containers that had come from Tehran despite receiving prior information that they contained consignment of drugs. Intelligence units have received prior information about these containers. The same thing happened to the 323 red labeled containers which were released. No probes have been conducted on these to date.  

“Prior information has been received by the two intelligence officers who neglected prior information they received on the impending Easter Sunday attacks. Some of those who were responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks have been identified. Former President Maithripala Sirisena had to pay compensation to Easter Sunday victims. Two former IGPs who were also found responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks are in jail today. However, the present government appointed two intelligence officers who neglected prior warnings on Easter Sunday attacks to high positions,” the MP also said.