The Appeal Court today (Sept 12) directed the Colombo Magistrate's Court to acquit all accused in the Avant Garde case filed by the Bribery Commission.
The Bribery Commission had moved court against eight suspects including former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for permitting Avant Garde Maritime Services to operate a floating armoury resulting in losses worth Rs 11.4 billion to the government.
Previously, the Colombo Magistrate's Court had dismissed the preliminary objections filed by Mr. Rajapaksa against the case. The former defence secretary had then filed a revision petition at the Appeal Court which was granted leave to proceed earlier today.
Against this backdrop, the Attorney General has also filed a case against 13 individuals over the illegal operation of the floating armoury, with 7573 charges being levelled against the accused.
The suspects have been charged over the illegal possession and transportation of firearms and ammunition, and also for providing false evidence over the matter.
Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has not been named as an accused in this case which is being heard before a three-member trial-at-bar at the Colombo High Court.
A British national had been arrested over attempting to smuggle in the largest haul of kush( drugs) from Thailand, customs said.
Popular grade five tuition teacher, Hayeshika Fernando wanted over assaulting a 21 year old youth was granted bail today after she surrendered to courts.
The Government of Sri Lanka maintains that the allegation of genocide during the final phase of the conflict in Sri Lanka is unsubstantiated by any credible authority, either nationally or internationally, and is based on misleading information. Sri Lanka firmly rejects this false narrative and believes it has been propagated primarily for electoral gains within Canada.
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