Hakeem questions Israeli drone deal, alleges US intelligence role

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader MP Rauff Hakeem on Saturday questioned the Government’s decision to purchase four Israeli-made surveillance drones for Rs. 4.261 billion, raising concerns over the procurement process and alleging that the aircraft could be used to gather intelligence for the United States.

Speaking during the second reading stage of Budget debate, Hakeem questioned why the Government had proceeded with the purchase without calling for competitive tenders.

“A supplementary estimate of over Rs. 4 billion was brought to Parliament recently to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles. Who are we buying them from? Israel,” Hakeem said.

He questioned the urgency behind the procurement and why the Government had decided to proceed directly with the purchase without calling for tenders.

“Why the sudden urgency? Without calling for tenders, they are proceeding directly with the purchase. Why are we buying these aircraft from Israel?” he asked.

Hakeem also raised the possibility of commissions being paid in connection with the transaction, although he did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.

“Who knows how much commission may have been received from the Israeli Government?” he asked.

He further alleged that the surveillance drones could be used to monitor Iranian vessels and provide intelligence to the United States.

“These aircraft are being purchased to spy on Iran, monitor the movements of Iranian ships and provide intelligence about them,” Hakeem alleged.

“Are we going to use our Navy and Air Force to spy for the Americans?” he questioned.

Hakeem warned the Government against involving Sri Lanka’s security forces in operations that could have implications for the country’s foreign relations.

“Don’t get yourselves into trouble by engaging in such activities. You have already created enough problems,” he said.

Referring to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Hakeem also questioned the decision to purchase the aircraft from Israel while Palestinians continued to suffer.

“Look at the suffering of the people in Gaza during these heavy rains,” he said, urging the Government to consider the plight of Palestinians before proceeding with the procurement.

“Before deciding to purchase these aircraft from Israel without calling for tenders, think about the Palestinians,” he said.

Hakeem also criticised the Government’s broader foreign policy, accusing it of failing to respond adequately to international developments involving Iran and Venezuela.

“Don’t lecture us about your foreign policy,” he told Government MPs.

Parliament approved a supplementary estimate of Rs. 4.261 billion on November 5 to establish an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system for the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekera previously told Parliament that the Government planned to acquire four Israeli-made drones through a government-to-government arrangement involving BlueBird Aero Systems.

The Deputy Minister described the procurement as an emergency requirement, saying the drones would be used for maritime surveillance, monitoring suspicious vessels, locating missing fishermen and supporting disaster response operations.

The Government has said the procurement would be financed through savings from the Air Force’s existing helicopter maintenance allocation and would therefore not require additional funding.