Fonseka's family have chance to appeal for release - Minister

Family members of Sarath Fonseka have an opportunity to make an appeal for Fonseka's release, Mass Media and Communication Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday.

He said Anoma Fonseka's conduct clearly shows that she does not really want to get her husband released. Minister Rambukwella was speaking at the weekly Cabinet press briefing held at the Information Department yesterday.

The Minister said former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga met President J R Jayewardene for more than 12 times and appealed to release her husband Vijaya Kumaratunga who was detained by the then Government over Naxalite charges.

He said Anoma Fonseka has resorted to campaign rather than taking steps to ensure the release of her husband to gain political mileage over the conviction of Sarath Fonseka by the second Court Martial.

Minister Rambukwella said there is no reason for Sarath Fonseka to refuse the Court Martial and its verdict as most of the judges were in the Court Martial appointed by Fonseka when he was the Army Commander to hear charges against Major General Parakrama Pannipitiya.

The Minister said Sarath Fonseka appointed the Court Martial and approved its verdict against Pannipitiya.

He queried how Fonseka can refuse a verdict given by a Court Martial that consisted of judges appointed by him in one of his Court Martials. The Minister questioned why Fonseka's son-in-law is absconding law enforcement authorities if he was not involved in the Hicorp deal.

He said the Second Court Martial has upheld that Fonseka has misappropriated Government funds.

The Minister said the UNP's agitation for the release of Sarath Fonseka is plausible as they wanted to gain political advantage over this issue. CP