Fonseka to face 3rd court martial

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 May 2010, 15:18 GMT]
Third court martial is likely to be appointed against former Sri Lanka Army Commander (retd.) General Sarath Fonseka, six Colonels and a Brigadier of the SLA over alleged arms deals committed by them when Fonseka was serving as the Commander of the SLA, Colombo media reported quoting Sri Lankan Defence ministry sources.

Eighteen thousand files pertaining to the alleged arms deal have been taken into custody by the military investigators and being scrutinized.

The first court martial against Fonseka was suspended by the Court of Appeal till May 21 in order to determine the validity of the legal proceeding against him. Fonseka is being charged in the first court martial for conspiring against SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa and for being involved in politics while serving as the Chief of Defence Staff. The second court martial has been instituted against Fonseka for violating military procurement procedures.

Meanwhile the Deputy Speaker of the parliament Priyankara Jayaratne Friday referred the privilege motion submitted by Sarath Fonseka in the capacity of Colombo district parliamentarian to the privileges committee. Moving the motion Sarath Fonseka said his rights had been violated by the military authorities after his lawyers informed the second court martial that he would be attending parliament on May 4, 5, 6 and 7.