India in touch with Sri Lanka over Fonseka’s arrest

NEW DELHI - The Government on Thursday said that it was in touch with Sri Lanka government over the issue of recent arrest of Retired Gen Sarath Fonseka.

“We have been in touch with the Government of Sri Lanka about the detention of Rtd. Gen Sarath Fonseka. As a friend and neighbour, we trust that due processes of law will be observed in democratic Sri Lanka in this matter,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson in reply to a question on detention of Rtd. Gen Sarath Fonseka, the former Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka.

General Fonseka, who led the Sri Lankan Army in its historic victory against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam, later resigned and contested in country’s Presidential polls against President Mahenda Rajapaksa.

On Monday (Feb.8), Fonseka, was arrested on the charges of “military offences”.

Sri Lanka’s former Army Chief and Opposition presidential candidate, General Sarath Fonseka, was detained by a team of investigators late on Monday night for “certain fraudulent acts and military offences” from the ’safe house’ he had been living in since he lost the January 26 election.

Three days after the poll outcome, the government accused the commander-turned-politician of plotting a coup to overthrow President Mahinda Rajapaksa and assassinate his family members. ANI)