The Prime Minister made this statement in response to a question raised by Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Parliament on Avant Garde floating armory.  

 

 

The Prime Minister stated that in the letter dated September 18, 2012, the then Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, D.M.D. Jayaratne informed the Chairman of Avant Garde that the Minister of Defence had permitted to operate the floating armoury in international waters. However, the Ministry of Defence is not in possession of the document that was given to anchor the floating armoury at the Galle Harbour.

 

 

He added that the only permit for the weapons were from the countries the weapons were issued from. And the accepting and issuing of those weapons are to be done under the supervision of the Sri Lanka Navy. The Ministry of Defence has not granted permission to issue any of the weapons from the floating armoury and in addition, the Ministry of Defence is not in the possession of the documents which detail the weapons nor the country of origin.

 

 

Wickremasinghe noted that the Attorney General has not advised that the case be withdrawn nor to conclude the investigations. As clear instructions were provided to continue with the investigation, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption will continue with the investigations over bribery allegations while the police will continue with the investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 5 of 2006 and therefore there is no requirement for another external investigation in this regard.