Fonseka should have been arrested earlier - SB

Asela KURULUWANSA and Sanjaya MATURATA

Sarath Fonseka should have been arrested when he made statements which betrayed the Sri Lanka Security Forces during the Presidential election campaign. It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who intervened to present his arrest then as he was a Presidential candidate, said former UNP National Organiser S. B. Dissanayake.

When the UN Human Rights Commission raised questions about Fonseka's statements, the Government was not in a position to dismiss Fonseka's statements without conducting a systematic investigation into them, he said.

Dissanayake said so addressing a press conference held at Madanwala, Hanguranketha on February 17.

Dissanayake said in the above circumstances, the arrest of Fonseka was mandatory.

The Government had no other alternative than to investigate Fonseka's statements, to absolve the country and our State leaders of the serious charges before the world, he said.

Dissanayake said Fonseka was arrested according to military laws. Dissanayake said Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe once appeared before the UN Commission to clear the good name of the country and deny any atrocities against Tamil civilians who came with white flags to surrender.

Minister Samarasinghe was bound to submit a report to the next meeting of the UN Commission after conducting an investigation into these allegations. If not Sri Lanka would be marginalised by the international community.

Dissanayake said the Presidential election was a most cleanly fought, fair and just election. People went to the polling stations early and expressed their gratitude to the President by ensuring him a convincing victory with 58 per cent of the total votes.