The All Ceylon Explosives Dealers Forum revealed today that explosive suppliers who were banned after allegedly providing explosives to Saharan’s group for the Easter Sunday attack were later allowed to resume business.
The chairman of the forum, Suriya Kumar Wijerathna, also said that after the attack, the Ministry of Defense stopped releasing explosives to dealers. However, dealers needed explosives for commercial purposes and were forced to pay 25 lakh rupees as a bribe to a former government minister to lift the ban.
Wijerathna explained that explosives are essential in certain industries, which faced significant setbacks due to the sudden ban. He disclosed this information during a media briefing held by the forum’s representatives at the Peradeniya Rest House.
The chairman also revealed that during the previous government’s term, billions of rupees in fraud were involved in issuing licenses for the sale of explosives. The forum demanded that the government conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
“Billions in fraud were committed in the import, distribution, and issuance of explosives. A few days before the presidential election, the former Defense Secretary, Mr. Kamal Gunaratne, issued licenses to friends and politicians. Warehouses are being built in Mahawa and Kandy, with problems regarding the specifications,” Wijerathna said.
He further claimed that attempts to raise concerns about fraud and corruption with the former Defense Secretary, who also worked as the controller of explosives, were ignored. “At that time, if we accused the defense secretary or a government minister, our licenses would be revoked,” he added.
The forum expressed hope that the current President, who has promised to eliminate fraud and corruption, would offer a fair solution to their issues.
Rajapaksa Sidney Gunathilaka, the forum’s temporary secretary, mentioned that 82 explosive dealers are registered with the Ministry of Defense. He explained that the economic crisis caused a shortage of ammonium nitrate due to the dollar shortage. The import of ammonium nitrate, previously managed by state corporations under the Ministry of Trade, was handed over to the private sector.
“Politicians’ friends imported ammonium nitrate and sold it for a huge profit, charging 2,117 rupees per kilo, while the state corporations sold it at 910 rupees. Despite these high profits, no action was taken by the Defense Secretary or the Cabinet,” Gunathilaka said.
Other forum members, Lakshman Lankathilaka and KDN Krishantha, also spoke at the briefing.
