FCID grills ex-Air Force chief Donald Perera

The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) is currently questioning former Sri Lanka Air Force commander Air Chief Marshal G Donald Perera regarding the controversial MiG deal.

Perera served as the SLAF Commander from 2002 to 2006 and as Chief of the Defence Staff from 2006 to 2009. He has also served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Israel.

Just last week, the FCID recorded a statement from another ex-Air Force commander, Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonethilaka, over the MiG aircraft transaction.

Goonethilaka served as the Commander of the SLAF from 2006 – 2011, taking over the reins from Donald Perera, and was later appointed as Chief of Defence Staff from February 2011.
 
The Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) has commenced an investigation into the controversial MiG 27 deal carried out by the Defence Ministry in 2006.

The FCID had informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate that an investigation was launched following a complaint lodged by senior journalist Iqbal Athas who wrote a series of articles in this regard in 2006.

On July 26, 2006, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) signed an agreement with Ukrinmash (a Ukrainian company) for the supply of four MIG 27 aircraft as well as the overhauling of four existing SLAF MiG 27 aircraft.

Soon after, the government announced that the MiG 27s met with the specifications required for Ground Attack Fighters.