Fonseka given mobile phone to talk only to daughters

Sandasen Marasinghe

Military Spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe yesterday said former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka was given the chance to use a mobile phone since yesterday on the condition that it be used to contact his two daughters only.

The Military Spokesman in response to a question raised by a journalist at a press conference at the Media Centre for National Security, said Fonseka was given this opportunity of using a mobile phone while he was in the Military custody as a privilege granted by the Army Commander but not on the orders of anybody.

Samarasinghe emphatically stated that the opportunity was restricted only to talk to his two daughters.

In response to another question, he said that there was enough ventilation at the residence where Fonseka was being held. It has a number of rooms, an office room, visiting room and a pantry.

He said it was once the official residence of the former Navy Commander.

He queried as to how one could find the ventilation inadequate after staying there for long as few weeks.