President wants Avante Garde investigations to continue

Despite the Attorney General withdrawing the Avante Garde Floating Armoury case , President Maithripala Sirisena has directed that investigations. Cabinet Spokesman and Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne told a news conference in Colombo yesterday, that the decision to probe the case further was taken during a meeting between the President and relevant officials prior to him leaving for the US, where he would also be addressing the UN General Assembly Sessions. "The President believes a more thorough investigation into the case is required", he revealed adding that it could lead to fresh legal proceedings being instituted. The Colombo Magistrates Court recently terminated the Avant Garde case after the Criminal Investigations Department informed that it did not wih to proceed on the Attorney Generals instructions. The Floating Armoury in Galle was established during the tenure of former Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa.