We often do not hear of frauds, corruption and irregularities in the military. This is because they are not reported to the media and are not reported but are not reported out of any fear or respect.
However, only a few transactions such as the Sri Lanka Air Force’s Migana deal and the C – 130 deal were reported. Also, the media had reported that during the tenure of former Air Force Commander Sumangala Dias, promotions were made only to officers loyal to him and loyal to him. By doing so, the rights conferred by Article 12 (1) of the Constitution were violated by the aggrieved officials. There have also been reports of large scale frauds and corruption in the Army food tender.
Mahinda Hathurusinghe and Dayaratne Ratnayake, two retired high – ranking officers, are at the top of the list of allegations of fraud, corruption and irregularities, including the sale of iron and machinery at the Kankesanthurai Cement Factory, which is part of the Kankesanthurai Army – controlled area. It is reported that they are also receiving a pension. That is how the army works.
It is reported that Dayaratne Ratnayake is the current Secretary to the Ministry of Industry. It is reported that with his knowledge, the Aruwakkaruwa of Puttalam has made preliminary plans to hand over 5352 acres of government owned land with ilmenite bedding to an Australian private company without paying any government fees.
According to reports, officials of the Geology and Mines Bureau are also involved in this. Adani is building wind farms by spending his dollars outside the tender process, and this fact is more serious than Adani’s agreement.
According to our internal sources, the Secretary to the Ministry of Industries is in the process of handing over this government land with the raw material used to make ilmenite and cement to a private company free of charge.
Despite retiring, many military officers as well as soldiers work only for the betterment of Sri Lanka. But it is clear from the many facts we have that the majority of high-ranking officers in the military are doing degrading work for the country. What we have to ask is how can they destroy the public respect and dignity of the army, which was greedy for money and proudly wearing a uniform? Does that not mean that they are greedy for money and even sell their children for their own needs?
The resources of the country now need to be protected from such government officials as well as similar politicians.