Category: Politics

NEW DELHI, February 20, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president says arrested ex-army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka is getting “five-star” treatment in custody, it was reported Saturday. Fonseka, whose detention came two weeks after being beaten in presidential elections in late January by President Mahinda Rajapakse, is being held by the military […]

February 19, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s top Buddhist monks called off a special gathering this week because of government pressure, a spokesman said Friday, while the opposition said bomb threats had been involved. The monks had been sharply criticised in the state-run media for dabbling in politics after they sent a letter to President […]

February 16, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka on Tuesday petitioned the Supreme Court challenging incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse’s re-election, his lawyer said. Fonseka, who lost a January 26 vote, alleged that he was robbed of victory because of rigging, electoral malpractice and undue influence on the 14 […]

February 15, 2010 (AFP) – Lawyers in Sri Lanka accused the government Monday of illegally suppressing protests at the arrest of former army chief Sarath Fonseka. On Sunday, the heads of Sri Lanka’s influential Buddhist clergy backed opposition demands for the immediate release of Fonseka, a decorated war hero who helped crush Tamil Tiger rebels […]

February 14, 2010 (AFP) – Leaders of Sri Lanka’s influential Buddhist clergy backed opposition demands Sunday for the immediate release of former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka. Top monks representing four sects made a joint appeal to President Mahinda Rajapakse to free Fonseka who was arrested last Monday by the military on […]

February 13, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president said Saturday there was no reason for concern over the arrest and detention of ex-army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka. President Mahinda Rajapakse has promised “due process” will be followed in dealing with Fonseka, the president’s website said. Fonseka was arrested Monday by military police […]

February 12, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition pressed President Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday to release detained presidential candidate and former army chief Sarath Fonseka. Opposition leaders say Fonseka was arrested on Monday as he was talking with them about the possibility of running in upcoming legislative elections. President Rajapakse dissolved parliament on Tuesday […]

February 11, 2010 (AFP) – A regional human rights group sharply criticised Sri Lanka Thursday over plans to court martial the island’s former army chief on charges of conspiring against the government. “The case is being pursued in military courts, thus avoiding the country’s ordinary courts and depriving him of due process,” the Hong Kong-based […]

February 11, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka has appealed for calm, his wife said Thursday, after violent clashes linked to his arrest on conspiracy charges. “He wanted me to convey to the people and especially the troops to remain calm and not to be provoked by […]

February 11, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police used batons and tear gas Thursday against protesters demanding the immediate release of defeated presidential candidate and former army chief Sarath Fonseka, witnesses said. Police charged into the crowds and beat them in Maharagama, a suburb of Colombo, a day after similar protests outside the Supreme Court […]

NEW DELHI, February 11, 2010 (AFP) – India urged Sri Lanka on Thursday to follow “due process” in its prosecution of Sri Lanka’s former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka. “As a friend and neighbour, we trust that due processes of law will be observed in democratic Sri Lanka in this matter,” the […]

UNITED NATIONS, February 9, 2010 (AFP) – UN chief Ban Ki-moon is alarmed by the arrest of Sri Lanka’s defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka and urged Colombo to guarantee his safety, his spokesman said Tuesday. UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said Ban “is following developments in Sri Lanka with concern” and urged Colombo authorities “to follow […]