White flag statement:

Gen Fonseka before Trial-at-Bar

Sarath Malalasekera

Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Rashmi Singappuli yesterday ordered General Sarath Fonseka to appear before the Trial-at-Bar on July 29 in connection with the white flag statement.

The Judge made this order on an application by Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Navaratne Bandara.

Deputy Solicitor General Bandara informed Court that Chief Justice Asoka de Silva had appointed three High Court Judges to hear the case against General Fonseka.

The three High Court Judges are Colombo High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundera (Chairman), Colombo High Court Judge W.T.M.P.B. Warawewa and High Court Judge Mohamed Zulficar Razeen.

Attorney General Pieris indicted General Fonseka on three counts in connection with the interview with Sunday Leader Editor Frederica Jansz where he had said that Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had ordered Major General Shavendra Silva to shoot at sight LTTE suspects who came with white flags to surrender to the Army during the final stage of war.

The interview with the Sunday Leader was published on December 13, 2009. Major General Shavendra Silva had refuted the allegation.