White flag issue:

Trial at Bar views news telecast

Sarath MALALASEKERA

The Trial at Bar consisting of three High Court Judges hearing Sarath Fonseka's white flag issue viewed Sarath Fonseka's media conference over the Sirasa news telecast on December 14, 2009 in open Court yesterday.

Later Deputy Solicitor General Buvaneka Aluvihare led evidence in connection with Sarath Fonseka's speech made at the media conference held on December 14, 2009 in Colombo.

The Bench comprising Colombo High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundera (President), Colombo High Court Judge WTMPB Warawewa and Colombo High Court Judge MZ Razeen.

Sirasa News Editor Sangeeth Saranga Kumara Kalubovila examined by Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake said he joined the Sirasa organization about five years ago. All news bulletins were prepared by the News Editor and telecast three times a day, morning, noon and 8 pm.

The News Editor takes full responsibility on all news items telecast over Sirasa TV. The witness said that he gave a statement to the CID and also handed over a copy of the news bulletin telecast on December 14, 2009.

The witness further examined by Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake said that not a single distorted news item were telecast over Sirasa TV. All news items received by their correspondents are telecast only after editing them and not by altering the original version of news items.

After seeing the telecast yesterday in open Court the witness said that Sarath Fonseka's media conference was held in Colombo. According to the news item telecast over the Sirasa TV General Sarath Fonseka said the Army never violated any of the International Laws. No one gave instructions to him or to the Army to eliminate LTTE cadres who come with white flags. Several senior LTTE members were killed during the war. Cross Examined by Senior Defence Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty the witness said that he made a statement to the CID and handed over a copy of the news item telecast over Sirasa.

Re-examined by Deputy Solicitor General Buvaneka Alivihare the witness said that he gave only one copy of the cassette to the CID and not three cassettes. Derana News Editor Chathura Asanga Alwis also gave evidence after the telecast of General Sarath Fonseka's speech.

Sarath Fonseka earlier pleaded not guilty to the three charges preferred against him namely making a false statement to Sunday Leader Senior Journalist Frederica Jansz that Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had told Brig Shavindra Silva to eliminate the LTTE cadres who come with a white flag to surrender during the final stage of the war.

Sarath Fonseka is charged on three counts under the Criminal Procedure Code and under Emergency Regulations Section 28 and 29.

Deputy Solicitor General Buvaneka Aluvihare with Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake, State Counsel Lakmini Girihagama and State Counsel Riaz Bawa appeared for the Attorney General.

Senior Attorney Nalin Ladduwahetty with Nilanthi Peiris, Ajith Pathirana, ULG Bandara, Mervyn de Silva, Wasantha Pitigala, Niroshan Perera, Namal Rajapaksa, Swarna Bandara and Chathura Anushka Amarasinghe appeared for Sarath Fonseka.

Senior Attorney UR de Silva watched the interest of Derana and Sirasa TV organizations.

The Court proceedings will be resumed again today, at 11 am.