Securing release of Sarath Fonseka:

No genuine measures by family members -Minister

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

There are two clear measures that can be taken by the family of former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka if they genuinely wish to obtain relief for him, Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

They are, making a formal request from the President for a pardon or going to the civil courts. But without taking any of those steps they have taken a third step which is protesting in the streets here and abroad, he said.

Addressing a special press briefing held at his ministry, Colombo yesterday, the Deputy Minister said that it is the tradition in Sri Lankan law to make a formal request from the President for a pardon.

This practice was followed by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on behalf of her late husband Vijaya Kumaranatunga when he was imprisoned.

At that time she was advised by politically motivated elements not to beg pardon from the person (late President J.R.Jayewardene) because he was the one who deprived the civic rights of her mother (late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike).

But she did so, (then) the President considered it and released Vijaya Kumaranatunga. The same procedure was later followed by Finance Ministry Secretary PB Jayasundara to obtain pardon from the President when he was given a court judgement.

The Deputy Minister said, the President cannot intervene and offer pardon to the former Army Chief violating the traditions and procedures because it can be interpreted as the President abusing his executive powers which President Mahinda Rajapaksa had never done. The Opposition Leader did not write a letter to the President when his party’s National Organizer S.B.Dissanayake was imprisoned.

He is now simply trying his best to distract all and take the attention away from the internal conflict of the UNP. Meanwhile, he says that the former Army Chief did not say no to him in connection with sending the letter which is absurd. The JVP now has a good theme to cling on to and is trying to keep it alive by keeping former Army Chief in prison while his family members protest abroad along with LTTE supporters.

The former Army Chief was punished by a court martial which was established under Act Number 17 of 1949 and three members of this court martial were appointed by himself. The former Army Chief had sent home 156 high officials of the Sri Lanka Army and 5,088 members of various ranks of the Army.

War Heroes such as Major General Parakrama Pannipitiya was among them.

Once a member of the Army was sent home for running over a dog by mistake. Nothing was said by anybody at that time. But only now some politically motivated parties talk about it purely with political intentions, the Deputy Minister said.