Accused in Avant-Garde case acquitted

May 21, 2021

Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar today ordered the acquittal and release of Avant-Garde Chairman Nissanka Yapa Senadhipathi and seven others from the Avant-Garde floating armoury case. Trial-at-Bar bench comprising High Court Judges Adithya Patabendige, ManjulaTillekaratne and Mahen Weeraman ruled that the prosecution has failed to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The Attorney General, in his indictment, stated that the accused committed punishable offences under sections 22(1) and 22(3) of the Fire Arms Ordinance and section 113B, 102, 189 and 190 of the Penal Code for the illegally operating merchant vessel ship MV Avant Garde carrying a stock of firearms and explosives including 816 unlicensed automatic guns and 202,935 rounds of ammunition on the seas off Galle. The Attorney General maintained that the accused had committed punishable offences under the Firearms Ordinance and Explosives Ordinance on or around October 6, 2015.

Accused in Avant-Garde case acquitted

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