Fonseka to be indicted for harboring army deserters

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 August 2010, 14:59 GMT]
Sarath Fonseka, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army is to be indicted in the Colombo High Court for harboring army deserters prior to the presidential election held in January this year. Sarath Fonseka who contested as the common opposition candidate in the presidential election was defeated by the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials of the Sri Lanka Police Monday told Colombo Chief Magistrate that Fonseka and his aide Senaka Silva are to be indicted in the High Court.

Senaka Silva will also be indicted separately for conspiring against the State, CID officials informed Colombo Magistrate.

Fonseka was found guilty by the first Court Martial recently for the involvement in politics while being serving as the Commander of the Army. He was sentenced by the Court Martial stripping his medals, promotions and pensions as punishment.

The sentence came into effect the next day when the President Mahinda Rajapaksa ratified it.