Attorney general says Avant Garde cannot be put on trial!

Friday, 17 July 2015

Galle chief magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura today (17) granted permission to Ceylon Shipping, owner of the floating armoury owned by Avant Garde, to transfer its weapons to another ship in the Galle port.

The company sought the court’s permission to transfer the weapons to ‘Mahaweli’ ship, as ‘Mahanuwara’, the ship presently being used has had its insurance period expired, and because that ship being very old, any harm could cause great loss to the company.

The CID informed the court that Avant Garde would not be put on trial under the firearms ordinance, explosives ordinance or the PTA. The CID also told the court that investigations were still underway into whether action can be filed against Avant Garde over the prevention of money laundering act.

The magistrate ordered that a copy of the written order by the attorney general to the CID in this regard be submitted to courts on August 27.

PCs Dulinda Weerasuriya, Guvera de Soyza and senior lawyers Ashoka Weerasuriya and Sudath Jayasundara, instructed by Ian and Collin law firm, appear on behalf of Avant Garde.