The special Cabinet meeting over the Avant Garde issue tomorrow will be characterised with fireworks as ministers will push for the resignation of Public Order Minister Thilak Marapana, political sources said. 

A group of ministers, including Rajitha Senaratne and Patali Champika Ranawaka will push for Marapana's resignation from his position on the grounds that his conduct with regard to the Avant Garde private security firm amounted to conflict of interest. 

Before he was appointed as the Minister of Public Order, Marapana served as the lawyer of Avant Garde company and in his Parliamentary speech on Wednesday Marapana referred to the company as "my client". 

Marapana's conduct came under severe criticism during the UNP Parliamentary group meeting held at Temple Trees last Friday. Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, Arjuna Ranatunga and Ajith P Perera stressed the need for taking stern action against the company. 

Meanwhile, another group of ministers representing the UNP held discussions over the weekend to defend Marapana and Wijedasa Rajapakshe, two ministers who are widely experienced in affairs related to judiciary. 

They are of the view that Senaratne and Ranawaka are attempting to discredit the government using the Avant Garde controversy, in a bid to further their own political careers.