A primary objection has been filed at the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today challenging the legality of the charges regarding Avant Garde Floating Armoury case.

Counsel appearing on behalf of the defendants has pointed out that the anti-graft commission should have presented a written approval to the court in the first place before filing charges of this nature according to the terms of the Bribery Act, where the State Counsel has argued a written approval is not required.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara today allowed the defence counsel to file preliminary objections on March 15.

Magistrate directed the prosecution to conduct the inquiry in the absence of the second accused Sujatha Damayanthi Jayaratne.

It was informed to the court that the said suspect is currently residing abroad.

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Nissanka Senadhipathi and six other suspects: Sujatha Damayanthi, Palitha Piyasiri Fernando, Karunaratne Bandara Adhikarai, Somathilaka Dissanayake, Jayanath Sirikumara Colambage and Jayantha Perera are facing corruption charges filed by the Bribery Commission with regard to Avant Garde Maritime Services Ltd.

According charges filed by the Bribery Commission, the suspects had committed an offence by permitting the the company to operate a floating armoury causing a Rs.11.4 billion financial loss to the State.