Rajapaksa authorizes Court Martial sentence on Fonseka

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 August 2010, 09:15 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa Saturday authorized the sentence imposed by the 1st Court Martial on the former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Sarath Fonseka. The first Court Martial Friday sentenced Sarath Fonseka which strips him of all military ranks, being found him guilty of involvement in political activity while in service. Rajapaksa has now authorized the sentence to be carried out with immediate effect, acting Military spokesman Colonel Duminda Gamage told media.

General G.S.C Fonseka joined the Sri Lanka Army on 5th February 1970 and received commissions as a 2nd Lieutenant on 1st June 1971 in the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment.

Months after Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected the Executive President, he was appointed the Commander of the Army on 6th December 2005.

He was promoted to the Rank of a General on 18th May 2009 immediately after the conclusion of the war.

On 14th July 2009, he was appointed to the post of Chief of Defence Staff and he retired from the service on 14th November 2009.

He unsuccessfully contested the last Presidential Election held in January this year against the incumbent head Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He was arrested following his defeat at the election.

Chronology: