Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="nismok" data-source="post: 6593632" data-attributes="member: 109094">A senior officer in the Sri Lankan army has been arrested in  connection with    the murder of a top campaigning journalist.                  <img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01523/foneska_1523706c.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />                                      General Sarath Fonseka stood for election to  the Sri Lankan presidency                     Photo: AFP Brigadier Duminda Keppetiwalana, aide to the former Sri Lankan army  chief    General Fonseka, was arrested over the murder last year of journalist    Lasantha Wickrematunga.    General Fonseka, who was last week defeated in the Sri Lankan  presidential    election by the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa, said the arrest of  Brigadier    Keppetiwalana was part of a wider attempt to isolate him and tarnish  his    reputation. Brigadier Keppetiwalana, who served as the former army chief's military    assistant, was among 13 senior officers associated with General  Fonseka who    were ousted following President Rajapaksa's election victory.    A further 21 retired senior officers working in the Fonseka campaign  office    have also been arrested amid claims from government sources that they  were    planning a coup against President Rajapaksa, the general said.    Diplomats said the campaign against General Fonseka reflected continuing     insecurity within the Rajapaksa camp despite his overwhelming victory.     General Fonseka has claimed his defeat was the result of 'ballot theft'  but    has yet to release evidence to support his allegations.    Last night he told The Daily Telegraph he had spoken to the wife of  Brigadier    Keppetiwalana after her husband's arrest last weekend and that police    officers who raided their home told her he was being held for  questioning in    relation to the murder of the Sunday Leader editor Lasantha  Wickrematunga in    January last year.    Mr Wickrematunga, who had been a fierce critic of corruption and    extra-judicial killings under President Rajapaksa's rule, was shot  dead in a    drive-by shooting by motorcycle gunmen as he drove to his office.    He had been locked in a legal battle with President Rajapaksa's brother  and    defence secretary Gothabaya, and blamed the president's family for his  own    murder in a posthumous editorial.     "Mahinda. You have told me that your sons are your greatest joy, and    that you love spending time with them, leaving your brothers to  operate the    machinery of state. Now, it is clear to all who will see that that  machinery    has operated so well that my sons and daughter do not themselves have a     father," he wrote.    General Fonseka last night denied Brigadier Keppetiwalana had any  involvement    in Mr Wickrematunga's murder. "They are doing this to isolate me, to    take my staff away so I can't run for office. No one can see these  people or    make a complaint.     "He [President Rajapaksa] is like a mad dog putting everyone in    detention," he said.    Army spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said Brigadier Keppetiwalana  had    been arrested but he could not confirm it was in connection with  Lasantha    Wickrematunga's murder. Source : Telegraph, UK</blockquote>

Verification: Asuwa dahayen wadi kalama keeyada?

Top Bottom