Second Court Martial against General Fonseka

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 April 2010, 03:49 GMT]
The second Court Martial hearing against General Sarath Fonseka commenced Monday amidst uncertainty whether he would be allowed to attend the inaugural session of the new parliament that is to meet on Thursday. General Sarath Fonseka appeared before the second Court Martial which heard charges against him, including procuring arms for the Sri Lanka Army in contravention of standard procedures.

Further hearing was put off for Tuesday April 20 amid speculation that the hearing would continue daily to prevent General Fonseka from attending the inaugural event of the new parliament.

General Fonseka won a seat from the Colombo district in the last general election with 98,458 preferential votes, highest in the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) list of candidates.

He is being held in military custody in the Navy Headquarters since his arrest on February 8.

Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry said it has not received any instruction from the Secretary General of Parliament to make arrangement for General Fonseka to attend parliament.