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| Sunday, 18 July 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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'Safe door' at BIA closed A special door to commute between the VIP lounge and CIP (Commercially Important People) lounge at the Colombo International Airport, Katunayake had been closed on the instructions of Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Mangala Samaraweera this week. The decision has been taken after it was discovered that the door had been used by some persons to illegally avoid Customs procedures and engage in unlawful activities. While the VIP lounge is used by diplomats, facilities are provided to businessmen in the CIP lounge on payment. The Civil Aviation Minister was tipped off to the effect that an Executive Director of the Civil Aviation Authority had allowed some businessmen to leave the Airport bypassing Customs using this particular door. Reliable sources confirmed that this had taken place on several occasions and one director was allegedly support dubious characters. The same Director has also once charged, assisting an LTTE political leader to get accommodation at a five star hotel in Colombo. The Army Intelligence Unit alleged that it was a move to the hotel at vantage point, close to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's residence at that time. Sources also revealed that this same person had also used sophisticated tele-communication equipment which could be connected to eavesdrop Police messages. Police Signal Division sources also confirmed that they had to provide him the required equipment because of the political pressure. |
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