. Maj Gen. Palitha Fernando and Nissanka
Senadipathi has been arrested by the Bribery Commission this
afternoon. They were released on bail after being produced before the
Colombo Magistrate. The Commission to Investigate into Allegations of Bribery
or Corruption earlier filed action against former Defence Secretary Gotabaya
Rajapaksa and 7 others for unlawfully authorizing the establishing of a
floating armoury. The other seven persons include former Additional
Secretary of the State Ministry of Defence Damayanthi Jayaratne, Major General
Palitha Fernando, Major General K.B. Egodawela, former Navy Commanders Admiral
Somathilake Dissanayake, Admiral Jayanath Colombage, Admiral Jayantha Perera and
Avant Garde Chairman retired Major General Nissanka Senadhipathi. The
case of the “floating armoury” had come to light after the Sri Lankan Navy
boarded the vessel on October 6, 2015 to discover a massive stash of weapons on
board. There have been allegations that the Avant Garde Maritime Services
was unduly favoured by the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa and as a result
caused losses to the Sri Lankan Navy. .