On Friday night, Gen. Fonseka, a US Green Card holder, which affords him permanent residency in that country, flew to the United States accompanied by his wife Anoma. Also travelling was his Military Assistant at the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff (OCDS), Brigadier Athula Silva and two commando bodyguards. They boarded a Dubai-bound flight for an onward connection and were due to arrive in Washington DC yesterday.
Until Saturday (October 17), Gen. Fonseka's visit to the US, as revealed last week, was to be part official and part holiday. Official engagements included a meeting in Washington with Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary, South and Central Asian Affairs in the State Department. Another was his presence at the US Pacific Command (PACOM) headquarters in Hawaii. This is to take part in ceremonies where the present commander, Admiral Timothy J. Keating relinquishes office.
Last Saturday, US Ambassador Patricia Butenis, diplomatic sources said, told Gen. Fonseka the US Government had withdrawn the invitation extended to him for the PACOM event. This was conveyed to him during an hour-long meeting at 'Jefferson House', the official residence of the US Ambassador at Colombo's residential Horton Place. According to these sources, the US Government has been compelled to do so in the light of Thursday's release of the US Department of State report to the Congress on 'Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka'.
In the light of the references made in the report to Gen. Fonseka, then Commander of the Army, the sources said, "it would be untenable for the US Government to officially host him at any event."
sundaytimes
Until Saturday (October 17), Gen. Fonseka's visit to the US, as revealed last week, was to be part official and part holiday. Official engagements included a meeting in Washington with Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary, South and Central Asian Affairs in the State Department. Another was his presence at the US Pacific Command (PACOM) headquarters in Hawaii. This is to take part in ceremonies where the present commander, Admiral Timothy J. Keating relinquishes office.
Last Saturday, US Ambassador Patricia Butenis, diplomatic sources said, told Gen. Fonseka the US Government had withdrawn the invitation extended to him for the PACOM event. This was conveyed to him during an hour-long meeting at 'Jefferson House', the official residence of the US Ambassador at Colombo's residential Horton Place. According to these sources, the US Government has been compelled to do so in the light of Thursday's release of the US Department of State report to the Congress on 'Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka'.
In the light of the references made in the report to Gen. Fonseka, then Commander of the Army, the sources said, "it would be untenable for the US Government to officially host him at any event."
sundaytimes
