Fonseka verdict signals trend to come out of LLRC

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 November 2011, 16:51 GMT]
Colombo High Court Bench on Friday convicted Sri Lanka’s former military commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka to three years rigorous imprisonment for him alleging that the SL President’s brother and defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had ordered the execution of surrendering LTTE officials in the white flag incident. Fonseka was found guilty of “spreading rumours and causing public disorder.” His rigorous imprisonment may mean that he should perform manual labour in prison. Fonseka’s conviction signals what directions the LLRC findings and following actions might take, commented political observers in Colombo. “This conviction happens under a dictatorship,” Fonseka told the court rejecting the verdict. "People will rise against this judgement and only then will the independence of the judiciary be restored," he added.

Fonseka in an interview shortly after the war alleged that Gotabhaya had ordered the field commanders to kill the LTTE officials whose surrender by carrying a white flag was pre-arranged through some international efforts.

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa denied the allegation.

Fonseka said that he was misquoted in the interview.

Fonseka is already undergoing 30 months imprisonment after a court marshal finding him guilty of corruption.

He is also facing yet another case in the court in which he is accused of harbouring military deserters and employing them as his bodyguards during his election campaign.

The verdict on Fonseka was timed for SL President Rajapaksa’s 66th birthday celebrations and the roads around the court complex were found decorated with the portraits of Rajapaksa.