Sri Lankan Government has constituted a three-member court martial panel to try detained former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka (59) on treason charges. All the three are major generals. A rear admiral (of the Navy) will serve as the judge advocate.
The trial begins on Mar 16 at the naval headquarters where he is detained.
But Sarath Fonseka is not inclined to attend the court martial proceedings, as those conducting the trial are his juniors, Vijitha Herath, the general secretary of the opposition Democratic National Alliance, (DNA), said. He will be represented by a battery of lawyers. Former chief justice of Sri Lanka Sarath N Silva is lending legal assistance for Fonseka.
The summary of evidence’, as required under the Army Act, has been recorded by Maj Gen Daya Rathnayaka and handed over to the army chief Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, according to an army communiqué. The evidence was reportedly taken from 22 army personnel, 7 police officers and 6 civilians.
The general was arrested (on February 8) shortly after he was defeated in the Presidential election which he entered as the common candidate. The orders for his arrest came from President Rajapaksa.
Officials said three charges will be pressed against Fonseka – “conduct unbecoming” an officer of his rank, maintaining contact with opposition politicians while head of the army and unfairly granting an arms tender to a company run by his son-in-law.
The charge that he had plotted a coup against the government is not being pressed at this stage.
If the court martial upholds the charges, he could be sentenced to five years in prison.
