No court martial inquiry against Fonseka when parliament meets

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 May 2010, 16:20 GMT]
The Speaker Chamal Rajapakse Thursday directed that the Court Martial inquiry against Sarath Fonseka, parliamentarian from the Colombo district, should not be held on dates when parliament meets. Former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Sarath Fonseka has been facing two court martial inquiries by the Sri Lanka Army. He is under detention in the Navy Headquarters since his defeat in the presidential election held on January 26.

Fonseka is the leader of the Democratic National Alliance parliamentary group led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

He was allowed to participate in the first day sitting of the parliament on Tuesday. But the next day he was prevented from attending the parliament stating that he should appear before the second court martial hearing.

But Fonseka remained in the detention place without going to second court martial hearing.

Fonseka is facing charges in the first court martial that he had been involved in politics while serving as the Chief of Defence Staff. He is facing charges in the second court martial that he had been involved in tender irregularity in purchasing armaments to the army while he was serving as the Commander of the SLA.

Fonseka Thursday afternoon addressed a media briefing in the parliamentary complex. He said he would raise the privilege motion when parliament meets on Friday morning.

This motion was handed over to the Speaker by him on Tuesday.