The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has decided to lodge complaints with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged financial losses to the State arising from Avant Garde’s involvement in maritime security services operated by the Sri Lanka Navy and Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd.
The decision was made when Rakna Arakshaka Lanka officials appeared before COPE at the parliamentary complex. Committee Chair MP Nishantha Samaraweera questioned the decision to bring Avant Garde into the operation. He said steps would be taken to terminate all agreements with the company and examine whether the alleged losses could be recovered. Committee members also called for legal action against anyone who had facilitated the arrangement.
COPE discussed Rakna Arakshaka Lanka’s current operations and audit findings. Samaraweera said the committee would pay particular attention to potential conflicts of interest in a company handling security, weapons and financial transactions. He also said the progress of its operational plan would be reviewed within six months in coordination with audit officials.
The committee raised concerns that the company’s annual reports had not been submitted to Parliament on time. A company representative acknowledged a backlog and said reports for 2024 and 2025 were expected to be completed by February 2027.
