BY SHAAHIDAH RIZA

The Minister of Prisons Reforms and Law and Order Tilak Marapana stepped down from his portfolio yesterday (9) over the Avant Garde controversy which was brewing in Parliament last week.

Addressing a press briefing yesterday, he said…

“If any investigation arises with regard to Avant Garde, I don’t want it being hampered in any way on account of me being the Minister, therefore I tendered in my resignation.

I understand that the public are not happy about this conflict of interest. Therefore I do not wish to encourage criticism about me influencing investigations. I am, however, confident that I am not in the wrong.”

He further added that the controversy with regard to Avant Garde arose due to a lack of understanding of the said matter.

He will however, remain a parliamentarian. Despite meeting the Prime Minister on Sunday (8) he added that he was not pressured to step down. His resignation was a result of his personal decision to do so, he said.

“We worked hard to create this government. Any man who is intelligent enough, would make a decision that is beneficial for the country,” he added.

Following the 2015 parliamentary election, Marapana entered Parliament through the national list of the United National Party (UNP). Marapana came under fire last week, when he made claims in support of the highly controversial Avant Garde deal allegedly without the endorsement of the Cabinet.

During the press briefing Marapana asserted the claims he made in Parliament last Wednesday, denying that the security firm which he represented did not engage in any unethical dealings, adding that the Avant Garde ship carrying armoury was not illegal. He also added,

“The ship was in Galle Harbour since October, 2014. As far as I know, Rakna Lanka Security Service and Sri Lankan Navy had a turnover of 18% each from the Avant Garde Security Service.”

On Sunday (8) leftist groups such as Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL) called for Marapana’s resignation, stating that the latter’s position as the Minister of Prison reforms and Law and Order was in conflict of interest as he has been an advisor to Avant Garde in a professional capacity.

When questioned about another controversial incident connected to Marapana, the contentious Millennium City exposure which took place in 2002, he conceded that it was wrong.

Courtesy:Ceylon Today