Media Release : Thursday, 18 January 2007

http://www.spur.asn.au/SPUR_NSW_20070118_Maheshwaran_And_Aircraft_parts.htm

H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa,

President of Sri Lanka

Your Excellency, 

Airplane Parts on board MP Maheswaran's Ship 

Our organization is deeply concerned of the progressive strengthening of the terrorist air power, and the impending threat to Sri Lanka's air space. Airstrips were constructed by the terrorists in Kilinochchi with the very purpose of violating the Sri Lanka's airspace and subverting Sri Lanka's sovereignty. Further, the various earlier attempts smuggle in air planes and helicopters under the guise of tsunami aid too have had serious implications for country. Also, there were earlier attempts to import gliders from a Sydney based company many years ago.

The recent discovery of air plane parts on board the vessel MV 'Briton' purchased / chartered by MP Maheswaran needs an immediate and a deep investigation. The LTTE terrorists will be using every ruse under the sun to get their airplanes to their airstrips in Kilinochchi, in time for the fifth anniversary of this most miserable ceasefire agreement.

Whilst the whole investigation appears to be focused on finding an acceptable explanation how the air plane part came to be left on board, there are many other unanswered questions.

1 Why did an experienced Master Mariner allow a highly sensitive air craft part to be knowingly left lying on board, when he knows the vessel will be operating in a conflict zone ? 

2 Has the vessel being under surveillance before and after clearance was given to enter Sri Lanka's territorial waters ? 

3 Has thought been given whether this was a left over part from a complete air plane that was offloaded to terrorist craft, once the vessel was in or near Sri Lanka's territorial waters ? 

4 Whether opportunity was also taken on the approach to Colombo on the immunity as a legitimate merchant vessel, to offload other weapons and ammunition as well ? 

5 Whether the vessel itself is LTTE financed, legitimately chartered to coast Sri Lanka with the ulterior motive of regularly trans-shipping weapons and ammunition to the terrorists as well ?

Your Excellency, we appeal to you to commission a fair and at thorough investigation into this whole episode, as well as to the manner of financing of the USD 36 million as reported, by a Sri Lankan Member of Parliament and his associates.

We wish you and your government well in the competent handling of the peace process to achieve a satisfactory conclusion, within democratic norms and the present Constitution.

Yours faithfully

Nimal Liyanage

President

SPUR (NSW)  

http://www.spur.asn.au/SPUR_NSW_20070118_Maheshwaran_And_Aircraft_parts.htm