The Cabinet meeting heated up last evening over the Avant-Garde issue as several ministers were highly critical of the conduct of Law and Order Minister Tilak Marapana regarding the controversy.

Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka vehemently criticized Marapana. They accused Marapana of trying to make a serious matter appear trivial and questioned him being the lawyer of the Avant-Garde Maritime Securities company.

Senaratne also pointed out that even the President and the Prime Minister have been accused of helping the covering-up of the incident. However, President Maithripala Sirisena informed that he has nothing against the inquiries into the Avant-Garde floating armoury.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake had lashed out at the government, including the President, of suppressing the inquiries into the matter. The government has fallen under the influence of 'dealers', Dissanayake said in a fiery speech in Parliament on Wednesday.

Law and Order Minister Tilak Marapana was criticized for his assertion that the Police had raided the floating armoury to 'score points'.