Sri Lanka war hero and defeated presidential candidate arrested

10 Feb 2010 8ak: Sri Lanka war hero and defeated presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka was arrested by the military police from his office in Colombo. The arrest was made on Monday evening under the provisions of 57(1) of the Army Act. Under the Army Act an Army officer can be punished within six months of retirement for incidents he is responsible for while holding the position.

Soon after the 26 January elections concluded, the stage had been set for the former chief’s arrest after President Rajapaksa had accused Fonseka of planning a plot to assassinate him and his family, a charge which was refuted by the army chief. The relations between the president and Lankan General, who was elevated to the ceremonial post of country’s only four star General as the Chief of Defence Staff after leading his forces to victory against the LTTE, marking an end to 30 year old civil war, turned sour after he was asked to step down by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa amidst fears of coup.

Even during the elections, the campaign was marred by a series of personal attacks wherein, the general was accused of corruption in arms deal by favouring his US-based son-in-law’s company. IBN reports Fonseka's wife's claim that the Sri Lankan government is framing him whereas Indian Express reports that media people will be questioned over the alleged coup plot. 

Comments

[Vijay]

For the love of god, I hope they don't go the Paki way here. This is ridiculous, I don't know who tried to kill who, just resolve it peacefully.