Court martial soon for Sarath Fonseka:

Summary of evidence on charges completed

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

The summary of evidence on the charges made against Sarath Fonseka has been completed and it will be handed over to the Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya this week, Military Spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe said.

The Army Commander will subsequently appoint the Court Martial.

Thirty-one people including 10 civilians have given evidence in this case, Maj. Gen. Samarasinghe told a media briefing at the Media Centre for National Security in Colombo, yesterday.

According to the Military Spokesman the Summary carries every aspect of evidence inclusive of technical evidence as well as personal evidence.

In response to a question, Maj. Gen. Samarasinghe said that as the law states the retired General has the privilege to question the persons giving evidence but he did not make use of it.

He said media presence in Court Martial proceedings never took place in history. When questioned by a journalist as to what would happen if Fonseka requests media presence during the Court Martial proceedings, Maj. Gen. Samarasinghe said that the decision will be taken by the Army Commander if such a request is made.

The investigations on the money laundering charges against Fonseka, Danuna Thilakaratne and Asoka Thilakaratne are being carried out simultaneously under the Civil Law, Police Spokesman Superintendent of Police Prashantha Jayakody said.

In addition, the Director General of the Media Centre for National Security totally denied the media reports that the former Military Intelligence Chief of the Sri Lanka Army is to be questioned on the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunga.

Referring to the Court proceedings of the case SP Jayakody said that the case is being conducted in a very transparent manner.

“Initially, Seventeen Army personnel were questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department and 11 were later released after questioning.

“Six persons are still in custody and investigations are continuing,” SP Jayakody said. He called upon the media to be more cautious when reporting such matters and added that creating a clash between the three Forces and the Police by such misleading reports will threaten national security.