Some suppliers of military hardware to Sri Lanka sure had some unusual, if not unique, trade practices.
Take for example, the supplier who sold the Israeli-built Superhawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to the Sri Lanka Air Force.
It cost the Government nearly eight million US dollars or around Rs 464 million. That was for the three UAVs, camera (for day and night), ground control unit and training facilities.
The suppliers (backed up by the agent) had a colourful demonstration near a battle area.
Service top brass and VIPs flew in to watch the marvels of the spy in the sky.
But there was one thing many in the defence establishment were then unaware of. It can now be revealed.
If after the demonstration, the authorities decided not to purchase the 'UAV package', the Government of Sri Lanka would have had to cough out US dollars 275,000 or around Rs 15, 950,000.
What was that for? Well, that was cost of the demonstration and as the supplier would have said, 'take it or leave it.'
They were taken and what followed is now history. Even a high powered Committee had gone into it.
No wonder the war is becoming ever increasingly expensive!
More on the recent Police Day parade at Police Park.
A group of gazetted officers who were to mount horses with all the regalia were in for a rude shock.
They were all forced to go through body checks.
Insiders say someone had apprehensions about two of them but could not single them out because their names were different.
Hence the whole lot were frisked !!
Government's announcement that it would publish the reports of the Commissions on Disappearances, welcomed pronto by Amnesty International, is the hot topic in security circles.
They say over 170 of those in uniform including two high-ranking men have been listed.
Would that mean more going on compulsory leave, they ask. Only time will tell.
Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Rohan de S. Daluwatte, has set up a Special Investigations Unit in his Secretariat.
Its task is to probe allegations of corruption, malpractices and other irregularities brought to the attention of the Commander. A good start indeed. Now what of the other services ?
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