Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake accepted Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s challenge for an open debate on the issue concerning the passport of Avant Garde Security Services owner Nissanka Senadipathy.

Making statement on his Official Facebook Page, Dissanayake said that if Rajapakshe insists on a debate he was ready to accept the challenge.

Meanwhile, he slammed Rajapakshe by saying that it was unethical to visit people who are in remand custody as the justice minister.

“If the Minister of Justice go and visit people who are in remand custody what will happen to the status of the post?” JVP leader questioned.

“Rajapakshe went to visit Tissa Attanayake first and MP Palitha Thewarapperuma thereafter. Doing such actions could harm the independence of the post. It should not happen,” Dissanayake declared.

Anura Dissanayake further said that instead of challenging to debates Rajapaksa should do his duties and responsibilities in a proper manner as justice minister in first place.

Addressing a conference held in Kandy in late January, Dissanayake stated he knew who took steps to return the passport of the Avant Garde Security Services owner, retired military officer Nissanka Senadipathy, one week after it was impounded, and went on to name two individuals in connection with the incident- including Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

Replying to this statement, the Minister of Justice said the JVP Leader should tender an apology to the nation over his “irresponsible” statement. He said that the “so-called leader of a political party” was speaking without a clear understanding of the matter.

Dissanayake meanwhile insisted that an official from Attorney General’s Department had confirmed his version of the story at a meeting in which the Prime Minister was also present. He added that Rajapakshe should ask the question from the Prime Minister and verify the story.

However, giving an interview to a weekly newspaper last week Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe asserted that the President and the Prime Minister informed him that Anura Dissanayake agreed to settle the matter.

“President and Prime Minister instructed to take steps for further investigations on the Avant Garde case instead of debating over the matter.” Rajapakshe said.