Sri Lanka Shipping has been quoted in the local media as saying that they had brought to the attention of the Magistrate Courts, the Harbour Master and the Criminal Investigation Department that the vessel was 40 years old and the Certificate of Class expires on March 31, 2015 and on expiry of class the insurances for pollution, wreck removal and damage to third party property becomes invalid.

According to reports, charter of the vessel had ended on February 28, 2015 and the vessel is currently detained by the Criminal Investigation Department.
The vessel has reached 40 years and to extend and renew the class of the vessel will well exceed the current value of the vessel and the vessel was not worth that expenditure. The condition of the vessel has deteriorated by being in a dormant position with its steel hull being fouled with barnacles. The vessel being detained indefinitely also poses an environmental risk and endangers the port.

The CID according to Daily FT has informed the Magistrate that the Attorney General had advised that the vessel remain detained until the completion of the investigation and asked for time until March 30, 2015 to complete this investigation. The CID has further informed the courts that this matter would be handed over to the Bribery Commission after the investigation was completed.
Meanwhile, the crew of Mahanuwara has claimed that they are not permitted to be signed off after completing their contract with the ship owning company Sri Lanka Shipping Company.

The crew has claimed that they were not under arrest or detained but the Harbour Master in Galle was not allowing them to disembark because the Magistrate Order to the Harbour Master gives him custody of the ship.

The crew has claimed that their right to sign off and go home to their families was violated.

It has to be assumed that the operation of the floating armoury is legitimate since the CID informed the courts that this matter would be referred to the Bribery Commission said Reza Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Shipping Company Ltd.

He added that the Defence Secretary and Minister Lakshman Kiriella had announced that the floating armoury would be handled in a legal manner.