Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday (21) stressed that a special parliament debate should be held on the Avant-Garde floating armoury case.

Speaking in the parliament, Dissanayake further said that following such a debate, a parliamentary select committee also could be appointed to look into the matter.

Dissanayake also said that Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Navaratna Bandara, during a meeting where the Prime Minister was also in attendance, had asserted that a criminal case could be filed against Avant-Garde floating armoury, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Firearms Ordinance and Explosives Act.

During the same meeting, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that cases should not be filed based on the Prevention of Terrorism Act, since the government has reservations on it, Dissanayake recalled.

Dissanayake questioned the Attorney General's statement that the investigations on floating armoury could only be conducted under the Money Laundering Act, saying that the AG is trying to withdraw the criminal cases that could be filed.

However, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe maintained that the AG has not been influenced by political authorities. The AG did not order the suspension of investigations, Wickremasighe claimed.