Fonseka begins fast as military prevents attending parliament

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 May 2010, 08:22 GMT]
Democratic National Alliance Parliamentarian Sarath Fonseka Wednesday morning began an indefinite fast in the Navy Headquarters where he is being detained since his arrest after the defeat in January presidential election, as the military forced him to attend the second court martial hearing fixed on Wednesday. He was prevented from leaving the Navy Headquarters to parliament on Wednesday morning.

This matter was brought to the notice of the Speaker Chamal Rajapakse when the second day debate on the emergency extension motion was taken up Wednesday. Parliamentarians of the opposition and the ruling party urged the Speaker to ensure rights and privileges of parliamentarians are protected. The parliament has been sitting for four days since Tuesday this week.

Fonseka is the leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) parliamentary group and representing the Colombo district.

DNA parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake told the Speaker that Fonseka had been prevented from attending parliament Wednesday by the Sri Lanka Army.

Wimal Weerawansa, a minister in the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government submitted to the Speaker that while Fonseka has different political views as an MP he had every right like other parliamentarians to attend parliament. Hence his rights should be protected and the Speaker should take steps to allow him to attend the parliament session.

Speaker Chamal Rajapakse replying to submissions by fellow parliamentarians said he would look into the matter.

The Speaker Tuesday allowed Fonseka to remain in parliament despite the second Court Martial hearing was fixed in the afternoon on the same day on a privilege motion by Fonseka early in the morning, sources said.