… Govt. denies claim

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa reiterated that Sanath Weerasinghe, aka Puwakkdandawe Sana, who had been arrested recently in connection with the ongoing investigations into the narcotics network, is affiliated with the National People’s Power (NPP), an accusation strongly denied by the government.

The former Minister emphasised that regardless of denials, he stood by his original claim that Sanath had been so close to the ruling party politicians in the Hambantota district they even arranged for some of the NPP leaders to visit Sanath’s home during the Local Government polls campaign. The police could easily verify my claim, Weerawansa said, acknowledging they couldn’t have been aware of his host’s affiliation with those responsible for bringing in boat loads of narcotics into the country.

The suspect, also known as Beliatte Sana, has been remanded till 09 Oct. by Tangalle Additional Magistrate Vidura

Weerakoon and police have been granted permission to question him. The Tangalle Divisional Crime Investigation Unit apprehended the suspect on 01 Oct.

Hambantota District NPP parliamentarian Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Ruwan Senarath said that there was absolutely no basis for Weerawansa’s claim. MP Senarath insisted that none of the JVP/NPP leaders had visited the suspect’s home.

The former Colombo district MP Weerawansa said that the truth couldn’t be suppressed by denying his claim. The ex-parliamentarian asked the government whether loosening of Navy patrols in the southern seas facilitated the transfer of narcotics that were recovered in Seenimodera, Tangalle, recently. The NFF leader alleged that the Navy and Coast Guard had ceased close monitoring of fisheries harbours at Beruwala and Tangalle, thereby contributing to the overall deterioration of monitoring of boats operating from those harbours.

The ex-Minister said so yesterday (05) in response to The Island queries.

The Island raised the issues at hand with Navy spokesman Commander Buddika Sampath who emphasised the deployment of vessels depended on specific intelligence, information available and threat assessments. In addition, the Coast Guard, too, is involved in the overall deployment. Referring to a spate of detections made by the Navy this year, the Navy spokesman said that they remained on alert to thwart whatever nefarious activities that crop up.

Sanath had been arrested for allegedly facilitating the transfer of a large stock of crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as ICE) and heroin from a ship to land using a fishing craft. The man who operated that boat, too, had been arrested. Sources said that Sanath had helped the boatman to evade arrest and his role came to light when the police apprehended the boat operator.

The Island also sought an explanation from the Navy spokesman regarding the successful transfer of narcotics from ship to land. Commander Sampath said that the Navy with the involvement of other relevant authorities were in the process of inquiring into that matter.

The police recovered 245 kilos of heroin and 380 kilos of crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as ICE in three trucks at Seenimodera, Tangalle. Police also recovered five brand new pistols and one T-56 assault rifle. The recovery was made following the sudden death of a person at the Tangalle Hospital. Police said that the Seenimodera detection is not connected with the detection of two container loads of chemicals in Middeniya following information elicited from those who had been extradited from Indonesia recently.

Ex-MP Weerawansa said that it would be the responsibility of the government to bring both investigations into a successful conclusion. The Middeniya detection should receive the highest priority especially since both containers had arrived at the Colombo port several weeks after the last parliamentary election and cleared in spite of specific intelligence with regard to the containers, the former parliamentarian said.

Weerawansa said that they would continue to press the government on container loads of narcotics arriving in the country and the Seenimodera ice and heroin detection.

Weerawansa said that even before the police contacted him a section of the media announced that he was asked to report to the Tangalle police on Monday morning. The NFF leader said that the government must know he couldn’t be intimidated by such tactics. At the time the government launched a media blitz over the Middeniya containers, NPP leaders never realized it was going to boomerang on them, the ex-Minister said, adding that though the two containers recovered in Middeniya hadn’t been among the 323 containers released in January this year, all those involved in that release were tarnished.

by Shamimndra Ferdinando