2ND LEAD

SL forces surround Fonseka's hotel

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 January 2010, 05:17 GMT]
Heavily armed Sri Lankan forces have surrounded Wednesday Cinnamon Lake hotel in Colombo, where opposition presidential candidate and former Sri Lanka Army General (retd) Sarath Fonseka was residing with opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe and JVP leader Somawanse Amarasinghe. Sarath Fonseka, who is trailing in the presidential contest against his former Commander-in-Chief Mahinda Rajapaksa was scheduled to hold a press conference Wednesday morning, but journalists were not allowed to reach the hotel and were waiting at Sri Sittampalam Gardiner Mawatte. In the meantime, Sri Lankan military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara has alleged that Sarath Fonseka was harbouring SLA deserters inside the hotel. Military has also been deployed around media outlets in Colombo.

"We know General Fonseka is inside, but our interest is in the army deserters who could be armed,' the military spokesman said warning Fonseka that it was a criminal act to harbour SLA deserters.

Meanwhile, offices and buildings of all media organizations in Colombo are provided with 'tight security' by the Sri Lanka Army, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told journalists.

However, sources close to Sarath Fonseka told media that the former army general was only employing retired military men and a few disabled soldiers for his protection. They blamed the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary and the brother of the SL president, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was trying to 'tarnish the image' of Fonseka.

The hotel is situated opposite the Sri Lankan Air Force Headquarters.

Sri Lankan President and Commander-in-Chief Mahinda Rajapaksa, his brother Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the former SLA Commander General (retd) Sarath Foneska and many other commanders have been responsible for major war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide against the Tamil people.