No tears for Fonseka

H. L. D. Mahindapala

Retired General Sarath Fonseka is one of those tragic Shakesperean heroes who is doomed because of a fatal flaw in his character. In short, Fonseka has been the main cause of his own downfall. In the last few days Fonseka was asking for it and he got it last night. He was challenging the government to arrest him if they have any charges against him and when the Military Police went to arrest him he resisted. He had to be dragged out initially though he walked the last steps to the van in which he was taken to security quarters at Sri Lankan Navy.

The irony is that Fonseka who was challenging the government to arrest him was refusing to walk out like a gentlemen and an officer to face his accusers. This is typical of Fonseka. He should have honoured his own words and, knowing the law, cooperated with the Military Police as there was no point in resisting arrest. He may have been putting up a show for Soma-hansa Amerasinghe, Rauf Hakeen, Mano Ganesan and a couple of retired officers but what good would that do to him?
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Fonseka to face Court Marshal: MCNS

General (Retired) Sarath Fonseka has been taken into custody by the Military Police, says Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) Director General Lakshman Hulugalle.

Mr. Hulugalle said that General Fonseka was arrested for discussing with certain sections of the Opposition, conspiring to topple the government and also for creating divisions within the Sri Lanka Army while he was its Commander and also when he was the Chief of Defence Staff.

The retired General is to face a Court Marshal where evidence against him will be produced, Mr. Hulugalle told the media.

Earlier in the evening, the BBC carried the following report:

Sri Lanka’s former military commander says that he is prepared to give evidence in an international court on war crime charges against Sri Lanka. General Sarath Fonseka speaking to journalists in Colomboon Monday said, “I am not going to save anyone who has committed war crimes”.

International human rights organisations as well as the US State Department have alleged that the Sri Lankan government committed war crimes during the final phase of the war against Tamil Tigers.

Several human rights organisations have called to try the Sri Lankan state in international courts on alleged abuses against civilians and surrendees.

During the presidential election where Gen. Fonseka challenged President Mahinda Rajapaksa, both claimed credit for defeating the LTTE.

“I am definitely going to reveal what I know, what I was told and what I heard. Anyone who has committed war crimes should definitely be brought into courts,” Gen. Fonseka said.

“Those who reveal the truth are not traitors,” he added.

>> Full Story: Ada Derana

Fonseka to 'testify on war crimes'

Sri Lanka's former military commander says that he is prepared to give evidence in an international court on war crime charges against Sri Lanka.

General Sarath Fonseka speaking to journalists in Colombo on Monday said, "I am not going to save anyone who has committed war crimes".

International human rights organisations as well as the US state department has alleged that the Sri Lankan government committed war crimes during the final phase of the war against Tamil Tigers.

Several human rights organisations have called to try the Sri Lankan state in international courts on alleged abuses against civilians and surrendees.

During the presidential election where Gen. Fonseka challenged president Mahinda Rajapaksa, both claimed credit for defeating the LTTE.

"I am definitely going to reveal what I know, what I was told and what I heard. Any one who has committed war crimes should definitely be brought into courts," Gen. Fonseka said.

"Those who reveal the truth are not traitors" he added.

>> Full Story: BBC

People Friendship University of Russia honors Sri Lanka President with a doctorate

Feb 06, Moscow: The People Friendship University of Moscow in Russia (former Patrice Lumumba University) Saturday conferred a Honoris Causa Doctorate on Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a ceremony held at the Kremlin Conference hall to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the University.

Here the Rector of the University Professor Vladimir M. Filippov presents the President with a diploma. President Rajapaksa addressed the audience following the conferment.

(Pictures by Sudath Silva)


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China, Sri Lanka 'good partners', Hu told Rajapaksha

Colombo:Chinese President Hu Jintao has said Beijing and Colombo are "good partners" and hoped that in coming years bilateral relations would scale new heights.
In a message on Sri Lanka's

62nd independence day, Hu, who has pledged USD 350 million as post war financial aid to develop Sri Lanka's infrastructure, said he hoped the country would achieve new progress "on the road of national building".
"In the days to come, I am willing to make joint efforts with Your Excellency to further promote China-Sri Lanka All - round Cooperative Partnership to new heights," Hu said in his message to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the occasion of the independence day that was celebrated on Thursday.
China has bagged the largest chunk of post-war development projects in Sri Lanka's North and South with ongoing and concluded projects estimated at more than USD 6.1 billion, according to a media report.

"China and Sri Lanka are truly good neighbours, good friends and good partners," Hu said.

China has pledged USD 350 million as post war financial assistance to develop Sri Lanka's infrastructure, including a key facility of the strategic Hambantota Port built with Beijing's assistance.

"Under the leadership of Your Excellency (Rajapaksa), Sri Lanka has maintained social stability, developed its economy and the living standard of its people has been continuously uplifted," he said congratulating Sri Lankans.


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