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Sri Lanka protests at US plan to quiz military chief
Sri Lanka summoned the United States ambassador in Colombo on Monday to protest over US plans to quiz the island's military commander about alleged war crimes, a report said.
The privately-run Daily Mirror newspaper said the Sri Lankan government objected to General Sarath Fonseka, currently visiting Oklahoma, being interviewed over his conduct during the conflict against Tamil Tiger rebels.
"A senior government official told Daily Mirror that General Fonseka was on an official visit to the USA and carried a diplomatic passport. Therefore the US government has no right to quiz General Fonseka," the report said.
Sri Lanka's foreign ministry declined to comment on the report, while US embassy spokesman Jeff Anderson said his office "was looking into the matter."
Officials said Sri Lankan diplomats in the US were having high-level discussions to prevent Fonseka from being questioned on Wednesday.
Fonseka is a US Green Card holder and travelled to the US last week to visit his two daughters. He also addressed a group of Sri Lankans in Washington last week and took credit for leading the battle to crush the Tigers.
The US plan has "prompted fears in Colombo that Washington is asserting its legal authority over the 'war crimes' report" released last month, the paper said referring to a State Department dossier on alleged war crimes.
The report outlined excesses by security forces and Tiger rebels during the final stages of fighting earlier this year. The report, submitted to the US Congress, refers to Fonseka's having overstepped his brief.
The report covered the period from January -- when fighting intensified -- until the end of May, when Sri Lankan troops defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at the end of a decades-old separatist conflict.
Sri Lanka last week announced it was appointing a panel to investigate the allegations after initially dismissing the report as "unsubstantiated."
AFP
Sri Lanka summoned the United States ambassador in Colombo on Monday to protest over US plans to quiz the island's military commander about alleged war crimes, a report said.
The privately-run Daily Mirror newspaper said the Sri Lankan government objected to General Sarath Fonseka, currently visiting Oklahoma, being interviewed over his conduct during the conflict against Tamil Tiger rebels.
"A senior government official told Daily Mirror that General Fonseka was on an official visit to the USA and carried a diplomatic passport. Therefore the US government has no right to quiz General Fonseka," the report said.
Sri Lanka's foreign ministry declined to comment on the report, while US embassy spokesman Jeff Anderson said his office "was looking into the matter."
Officials said Sri Lankan diplomats in the US were having high-level discussions to prevent Fonseka from being questioned on Wednesday.
Fonseka is a US Green Card holder and travelled to the US last week to visit his two daughters. He also addressed a group of Sri Lankans in Washington last week and took credit for leading the battle to crush the Tigers.
The US plan has "prompted fears in Colombo that Washington is asserting its legal authority over the 'war crimes' report" released last month, the paper said referring to a State Department dossier on alleged war crimes.
The report outlined excesses by security forces and Tiger rebels during the final stages of fighting earlier this year. The report, submitted to the US Congress, refers to Fonseka's having overstepped his brief.
The report covered the period from January -- when fighting intensified -- until the end of May, when Sri Lankan troops defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at the end of a decades-old separatist conflict.
Sri Lanka last week announced it was appointing a panel to investigate the allegations after initially dismissing the report as "unsubstantiated."
AFP
Sri Lanka protested Monday against plans by US officials to quiz its top military commander over alleged war crimes committed during the final months of the war with Tamil Tiger rebels.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the US Department of Homeland Security had requested that General Sarath Fonseka, who is currently visiting his daughters in Oklahoma, make himself available for questioning on Wednesday.
"Our position is that the meeting should not take place," Bogollagama told reporters, adding that Fonseka was holding a Sri Lankan diplomatic passport and was representing the government on official work.
The minister said the US authorities were trying to force Fonseka to testify "as a possible source" against Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse over allegations of human rights violations.
The defence secretary, who hold US citizenship, is the younger brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse.
Earlier Monday, Bogollagama had summoned the US ambassador and lodged a formal protest.
Fonseka is a Green Card holder and travelled to the United States last week to visit his two daughters. He also addressed a group of Sri Lankans in Washington and took credit for leading the battle to crush the Tigers.
Bogollagama said Fonseka could not divulge sensitive information to third parties regarding his work with the Sri Lankan government.
The US plan to interview Fonseka followed the recent publication of a US State Department dossier outlining allegations of serious rights violations by both sides towards the end of Sri Lanka's decades-old conflict with Tamil Tiger separatists.
The report, submitted to the US Congress, refers to Fonseka having overstepped his brief.
The report covered the period from January -- when fighting intensified -- until the end of May, when Sri Lankan troops defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Sri Lanka last week announced it was appointing a panel to investigate the allegations after initially dismissing the report as "unsubstantiated."
AFP
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the US Department of Homeland Security had requested that General Sarath Fonseka, who is currently visiting his daughters in Oklahoma, make himself available for questioning on Wednesday.
"Our position is that the meeting should not take place," Bogollagama told reporters, adding that Fonseka was holding a Sri Lankan diplomatic passport and was representing the government on official work.
The minister said the US authorities were trying to force Fonseka to testify "as a possible source" against Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse over allegations of human rights violations.
The defence secretary, who hold US citizenship, is the younger brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse.
Earlier Monday, Bogollagama had summoned the US ambassador and lodged a formal protest.
Fonseka is a Green Card holder and travelled to the United States last week to visit his two daughters. He also addressed a group of Sri Lankans in Washington and took credit for leading the battle to crush the Tigers.
Bogollagama said Fonseka could not divulge sensitive information to third parties regarding his work with the Sri Lankan government.
The US plan to interview Fonseka followed the recent publication of a US State Department dossier outlining allegations of serious rights violations by both sides towards the end of Sri Lanka's decades-old conflict with Tamil Tiger separatists.
The report, submitted to the US Congress, refers to Fonseka having overstepped his brief.
The report covered the period from January -- when fighting intensified -- until the end of May, when Sri Lankan troops defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Sri Lanka last week announced it was appointing a panel to investigate the allegations after initially dismissing the report as "unsubstantiated."
AFP
Sri Lanka strongly protested US plans to question Chief of Defence Staff Gen Sarath Fonseka over alleged human rights violations in the
last phase of the civil war, saying he has no authority to share any information relating to national security with third parties.
The US Department of Homeland Security authorities have asked Fonseka, who is currently on a visit to the US, to make himself available for questioning in Oklahama, on Wednesday.
"Our position is that the meeting should not take place," he told reporters after Foreign Office summoned US Ambassador Patricia Butenis to lodge protest over the move and was told that the US should "forthwith desist from any endeavor to interview General Fonseka."
"Whatever information General Fonseka may have acquired in the exercise of his official duties is privileged by nature. Therefore, it cannot legally be shared with third parties without the prior approval and consent of the Sri Lanka authorities," Bogollagama said.
Foneska, who was the Army Chief during the last phase of the war, had travelled to the US on a diplomatic passport for pre-arranged appointments, he said.
He said Fonseka, a US green card holder, has been asked to testify before US authorities whose objective is to to use him "as a source against human rights violations by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa)."
timesofindia
last phase of the civil war, saying he has no authority to share any information relating to national security with third parties.
The US Department of Homeland Security authorities have asked Fonseka, who is currently on a visit to the US, to make himself available for questioning in Oklahama, on Wednesday.
"Our position is that the meeting should not take place," he told reporters after Foreign Office summoned US Ambassador Patricia Butenis to lodge protest over the move and was told that the US should "forthwith desist from any endeavor to interview General Fonseka."
"Whatever information General Fonseka may have acquired in the exercise of his official duties is privileged by nature. Therefore, it cannot legally be shared with third parties without the prior approval and consent of the Sri Lanka authorities," Bogollagama said.
Foneska, who was the Army Chief during the last phase of the war, had travelled to the US on a diplomatic passport for pre-arranged appointments, he said.
He said Fonseka, a US green card holder, has been asked to testify before US authorities whose objective is to to use him "as a source against human rights violations by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa)."
timesofindia
President Mahinda Rajapaksa says there is no need for international courts to make any attempt at solving issues in Sri Lanka as the domestic law is capable of dealing with those issues. The President made the comments during a foundation stone laying ceremony for a modern Courts complex for lawyers in Colombo today.
dailymirror
dailymirror
The Sri Lankan government has asked the United States government to stop a scheduled interview with its Chief of Defense Staff General Sarath Fonseka over an alleged war crimes probe, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told reporters here on Monday.
"The Department of Homeland Security (of the United States) should forthwith desist from any endeavor to interview General Fonseka," Bogollagama said.
According to Bogollagama, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had called Fonseka for an interview on Nov. 4 in Oklahoma.
The objective of the interview is to use him "as a source against human rights violations done by Gotabhaya Rajapakse, the defense secretary (of Sri Lanka)," the Sri Lankan foreign minister said.
Bogollagama said the Sri Lankan government's position was conveyed through the U.S. Ambassador in Colombo Patricia Butenis.
He asserted that Fonseka was not within his right to convey to a third party the information which he was privy to and was vital to the island's security.
Sri Lanka's human rights record during the final stages of the military campaign against Tamil Tiger rebels came to be questioned in a U.S. State Department report.
The U.S. State Department presented a report to Congress last month containing 170 incidents between May 2 and 18. It is based mostly on internal reports to Washington from the U. S. Embassy in Colombo, satellite imagery, international relief organizations and media outlets.
xinhuanet
"The Department of Homeland Security (of the United States) should forthwith desist from any endeavor to interview General Fonseka," Bogollagama said.
According to Bogollagama, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had called Fonseka for an interview on Nov. 4 in Oklahoma.
The objective of the interview is to use him "as a source against human rights violations done by Gotabhaya Rajapakse, the defense secretary (of Sri Lanka)," the Sri Lankan foreign minister said.
Bogollagama said the Sri Lankan government's position was conveyed through the U.S. Ambassador in Colombo Patricia Butenis.
He asserted that Fonseka was not within his right to convey to a third party the information which he was privy to and was vital to the island's security.
Sri Lanka's human rights record during the final stages of the military campaign against Tamil Tiger rebels came to be questioned in a U.S. State Department report.
The U.S. State Department presented a report to Congress last month containing 170 incidents between May 2 and 18. It is based mostly on internal reports to Washington from the U. S. Embassy in Colombo, satellite imagery, international relief organizations and media outlets.
xinhuanet
Sri Lanka said on Monday it had demanded Washington drop an attempt to question its top military official over possible human rights violations in the last phase of the country's 25-year civil war.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said he had been told General Sarath Fonseka, the chief of Defense Staff, had been asked by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to attend an interview aimed at gathering information against Sri Lanka's defense secretary.
Fonseka, who led the army to victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May, is visiting the United States where his daughters attend university.
The foreign minister said an attorney at the Department of Homeland Security told Fonseka the aim of the interview was to pull together information against Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a naturalized U.S. citizen.
The department's Immigrations and Customs Enforcement division would normally have authority only to probe a matter related to Fonseka's prospective U.S. citizenship as a green card holder and not any possible human rights violations.
Bogollagama said Fonseka, army chief at the time of the final offensive against the Tigers, had received a letter followed by a phone call to attend an interview on Wednesday. Fonseka is now in Oklahoma.
"The Department of Homeland Security should forthwith desist from any endeavor to interview General Fonseka," Bogollagama told reporters, adding he had called in the U.S. ambassador to Colombo, Patricia Butenis, to give her that message.
"Whatever information General Fonseka may have acquired in the exercise of his official duties is privileged by nature. Therefore, it cannot legally be shared with third parties without the prior approval and consent of the Sri Lanka authorities."
Asked for details of the interview request and the reasons behind it, Jeff Anderson, a spokesman for the U.S. embassy in Colombo, said: "We are looking into it."
Sri Lanka faces heavy Western pressure over its human rights record.
The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights on October 22 suggested an external inquiry in Sri Lanka similar to Gaza on war crimes, while the European Union is considering whether to withdraw a trade concession that helps Sri Lanka's top export, garments.
Sri Lanka said last week that it would appoint a panel to probe a report by the U.S. State Department detailing possible atrocities by both warring parties in the final battle of the 25-year war.
The government defeated the Tamil Tigers in May in a bitter final phase led by Fonseka with both Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa giving all the necessary support.
Fonseka's name has now surfaced as a potential presidential contender to President Rajapaksa, speculation opposition parties have been happy to fan against the incumbent's enormous post-war popularity.
But the government has said there was no rift between Fonseka and Rajapaksa, who promoted the army commander to the Chief of Defense Staff in July, which many analysts saw as neutralizing the wide powers Fonseka had in wartime.
reuters
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said he had been told General Sarath Fonseka, the chief of Defense Staff, had been asked by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to attend an interview aimed at gathering information against Sri Lanka's defense secretary.
Fonseka, who led the army to victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May, is visiting the United States where his daughters attend university.
The foreign minister said an attorney at the Department of Homeland Security told Fonseka the aim of the interview was to pull together information against Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a naturalized U.S. citizen.
The department's Immigrations and Customs Enforcement division would normally have authority only to probe a matter related to Fonseka's prospective U.S. citizenship as a green card holder and not any possible human rights violations.
Bogollagama said Fonseka, army chief at the time of the final offensive against the Tigers, had received a letter followed by a phone call to attend an interview on Wednesday. Fonseka is now in Oklahoma.
"The Department of Homeland Security should forthwith desist from any endeavor to interview General Fonseka," Bogollagama told reporters, adding he had called in the U.S. ambassador to Colombo, Patricia Butenis, to give her that message.
"Whatever information General Fonseka may have acquired in the exercise of his official duties is privileged by nature. Therefore, it cannot legally be shared with third parties without the prior approval and consent of the Sri Lanka authorities."
Asked for details of the interview request and the reasons behind it, Jeff Anderson, a spokesman for the U.S. embassy in Colombo, said: "We are looking into it."
Sri Lanka faces heavy Western pressure over its human rights record.
The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights on October 22 suggested an external inquiry in Sri Lanka similar to Gaza on war crimes, while the European Union is considering whether to withdraw a trade concession that helps Sri Lanka's top export, garments.
Sri Lanka said last week that it would appoint a panel to probe a report by the U.S. State Department detailing possible atrocities by both warring parties in the final battle of the 25-year war.
The government defeated the Tamil Tigers in May in a bitter final phase led by Fonseka with both Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa giving all the necessary support.
Fonseka's name has now surfaced as a potential presidential contender to President Rajapaksa, speculation opposition parties have been happy to fan against the incumbent's enormous post-war popularity.
But the government has said there was no rift between Fonseka and Rajapaksa, who promoted the army commander to the Chief of Defense Staff in July, which many analysts saw as neutralizing the wide powers Fonseka had in wartime.
reuters
Sri Lanka on Monday categorically urged the United States to “desist from any endeavour to interview” its Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Sarath Fonseka, currently on a private visit to the U.S., in connection with the alleged human rights violations in the course of the Eelam War IV between the security forces and the LTTE.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told reporters at a specially convened news conference here that he met U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis to convey the message and added that Sri Lankan Ambassador to the U.S. Jaliya Wickramasuriya had also made similar representations to the State Department in Washington DC.
Mr. Bogollagama confirmed that on October 28 an attorney of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) telephoned General Fonseka to inform him that the department had fixed an interview with him on November 4 in Oklahoma City and the objective of the interview was to use him “as a source against human rights violations done by Secretary/Defence”.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is the younger brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and is a U.S. citizen. Mr. Gotabhaya was the Defence Secretary and General Fonseka, a U.S. Green Card holder, was the Army chief throughout Eelam War IV.
“I have invited you to meet with me this afternoon, to emphasise in my capacity of Foreign Minister that the President and the government of Sri Lanka stand firmly behind the Office of the CDS of Sri Lanka. We will not allow that high post to be denigrated or made vulnerable,” said the Minister.
Mr. Bogollagama maintained that Mr. Gotabhaya’s duties required his dealing with a situation of a grave onslaught by the LTTE that threatened the integrity of Sri Lanka and the allegations levelled against the Defence Secretary affected the vital interests of the government of Sri Lanka.
In response to a question, Mr. Bogollagama said the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary had already been questioned by U.S. Immigration authorities on his arrival in the U.S. as a member of the Sri Lankan delegation for the U.N. General Assembly in the last week of September.
The desire of the U.S. Homeland Security to quiz General Fonseka appears to be a follow-up to a 68-page report from the U.S. Department of State to the Congress on October 22 detailing allegations of “atrocities” by both the military and LTTE cadres during the final stages of the war.
thehindu
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told reporters at a specially convened news conference here that he met U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis to convey the message and added that Sri Lankan Ambassador to the U.S. Jaliya Wickramasuriya had also made similar representations to the State Department in Washington DC.
Mr. Bogollagama confirmed that on October 28 an attorney of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) telephoned General Fonseka to inform him that the department had fixed an interview with him on November 4 in Oklahoma City and the objective of the interview was to use him “as a source against human rights violations done by Secretary/Defence”.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is the younger brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and is a U.S. citizen. Mr. Gotabhaya was the Defence Secretary and General Fonseka, a U.S. Green Card holder, was the Army chief throughout Eelam War IV.
“I have invited you to meet with me this afternoon, to emphasise in my capacity of Foreign Minister that the President and the government of Sri Lanka stand firmly behind the Office of the CDS of Sri Lanka. We will not allow that high post to be denigrated or made vulnerable,” said the Minister.
Mr. Bogollagama maintained that Mr. Gotabhaya’s duties required his dealing with a situation of a grave onslaught by the LTTE that threatened the integrity of Sri Lanka and the allegations levelled against the Defence Secretary affected the vital interests of the government of Sri Lanka.
In response to a question, Mr. Bogollagama said the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary had already been questioned by U.S. Immigration authorities on his arrival in the U.S. as a member of the Sri Lankan delegation for the U.N. General Assembly in the last week of September.
The desire of the U.S. Homeland Security to quiz General Fonseka appears to be a follow-up to a 68-page report from the U.S. Department of State to the Congress on October 22 detailing allegations of “atrocities” by both the military and LTTE cadres during the final stages of the war.
thehindu
The United States was tightlipped Monday about Sri Lanka's visiting top military commander, after the island said US authorities planned to grill him over alleged war crimes.
Sri Lanka summoned the US ambassador to demand the Department of Homeland Security drop what the island's government said were plans to question General Sarath Fonseka over the campaign that crushed Tamil Tiger rebels.
"The Department of Homeland Security cannot confirm nor deny the existence of any investigation," department spokesman Matt Chandler said.
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said separately that he was not familiar with the case.
Fonseka, Sri Lanka's chief of defense staff, holds US permanent residency and arrived in the United States last week to see his daughters in the central state of Oklahoma.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the Department of Homeland Security, which handles US immigration, had requested that Fonseka make himself available for questioning on Wednesday.
The minister said US authorities were trying to force Fonseka to testify "as a possible source" against Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse over allegations of human rights violations.
The defense secretary, who holds US citizenship, is the younger brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse.
Sri Lankan troops in May killed the top leader of the Tamil Tigers, ending one of Asia's longest-running and bloodiest insurgencies that aimed at creating a separate homeland for the island's Tamil minority.
A State Department report presented to Congress last month charged that both the government and Tamil Tigers committed serious human rights violations in the finale of the conflict.
An advocacy group from the Tamil diaspora said it would welcome questioning of Fonseka.
"As US citizens, we are encouraged by our government's important first step towards bringing justice to Sri Lanka," said Anjali Manivannan, representative of Washington-based People for Equality and Relief in Sri Lanka.
"We were gravely disappointed by America's inaction as the death toll of Tamil civilians climbed into the thousands earlier this year, and we hope to see the US now take stronger leadership in promoting a political solution that respects Tamils' fundamental rights," she said.
The UN reported that more than 7,000 civilians may have perished in the fighting during this year. The Sri Lankan government contends that not a single civilian was killed by its own troops.
AFP
Sri Lanka summoned the US ambassador to demand the Department of Homeland Security drop what the island's government said were plans to question General Sarath Fonseka over the campaign that crushed Tamil Tiger rebels.
"The Department of Homeland Security cannot confirm nor deny the existence of any investigation," department spokesman Matt Chandler said.
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said separately that he was not familiar with the case.
Fonseka, Sri Lanka's chief of defense staff, holds US permanent residency and arrived in the United States last week to see his daughters in the central state of Oklahoma.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the Department of Homeland Security, which handles US immigration, had requested that Fonseka make himself available for questioning on Wednesday.
The minister said US authorities were trying to force Fonseka to testify "as a possible source" against Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse over allegations of human rights violations.
The defense secretary, who holds US citizenship, is the younger brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse.
Sri Lankan troops in May killed the top leader of the Tamil Tigers, ending one of Asia's longest-running and bloodiest insurgencies that aimed at creating a separate homeland for the island's Tamil minority.
A State Department report presented to Congress last month charged that both the government and Tamil Tigers committed serious human rights violations in the finale of the conflict.
An advocacy group from the Tamil diaspora said it would welcome questioning of Fonseka.
"As US citizens, we are encouraged by our government's important first step towards bringing justice to Sri Lanka," said Anjali Manivannan, representative of Washington-based People for Equality and Relief in Sri Lanka.
"We were gravely disappointed by America's inaction as the death toll of Tamil civilians climbed into the thousands earlier this year, and we hope to see the US now take stronger leadership in promoting a political solution that respects Tamils' fundamental rights," she said.
The UN reported that more than 7,000 civilians may have perished in the fighting during this year. The Sri Lankan government contends that not a single civilian was killed by its own troops.
AFP
Fiji expels Aussie, Kiwi envoys over visa issue for Lankan judges
Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama Tuesday ordered the Australian and New Zealand envoys to leave within 24 hours over alleged interference in Fiji's judiciary after a number of Sri Lankan judges appointed to serve in the Fijian judiciary had been told they would not be able to travel through Australia to take up their new jobs, an accusation denied by Canberra.
dailymirror
Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama Tuesday ordered the Australian and New Zealand envoys to leave within 24 hours over alleged interference in Fiji's judiciary after a number of Sri Lankan judges appointed to serve in the Fijian judiciary had been told they would not be able to travel through Australia to take up their new jobs, an accusation denied by Canberra.
dailymirror
New UNP led coalition formed in Parliament today
The new UNP led coalition comprising 12 political parties was formed at the Parliament premises today with the signing of the agreement. The coalition includes the SLMC, Democratic Peoples Front and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party – Mahajana Wing
dailymirror
The new UNP led coalition comprising 12 political parties was formed at the Parliament premises today with the signing of the agreement. The coalition includes the SLMC, Democratic Peoples Front and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party – Mahajana Wing
dailymirror
Sri Lanka Government distances itself from war hero
The Sri Lankan Government on Monday (November 2) distanced itself from its highest ranking military officer amidst allegations of human rights violations. Speaking exclusively to TIMES NOW, Sri Lankan cabinet Minister Douglas Devananda has said that the Government's stand could differ from chief of defence staff General Sarath Fonseka's statements.
Devananda claims that for political reasons, General Fonseka could talk about things that actually never happened. The Minister says that Fonseka's statements could differ from the government's stand because opposition parties are trying to get him to join politics.
He said, "He (Fonseka) is trying to enroll in politics, so he may say something different from what actually happened. Opposition parties in Sri Lanka are trying to bring him into politics, maybe as a third force. That is our government’s stand."
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said, "I have accordingly met earlier this afternoon with Her Excellency, Mrs. Patricia Butenis, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, to convey through Her Excellency the message that the Department of Homeland Security should forthwith desist from any endeavour to interview General Fonseka."
The Lankan government's stand comes at a time when it has demanded that Washington drop an attempt to question Fonseka over alleged human rights violations during the last phase of the war against the LTTE. The US Department of Homeland Security wants to interview Fonseka to gather information against the Lankan Defence Secretary Gotbaya Rajapakse. Fonseka is currently on a trip to the US.
timesnow
The Sri Lankan Government on Monday (November 2) distanced itself from its highest ranking military officer amidst allegations of human rights violations. Speaking exclusively to TIMES NOW, Sri Lankan cabinet Minister Douglas Devananda has said that the Government's stand could differ from chief of defence staff General Sarath Fonseka's statements.
Devananda claims that for political reasons, General Fonseka could talk about things that actually never happened. The Minister says that Fonseka's statements could differ from the government's stand because opposition parties are trying to get him to join politics.
He said, "He (Fonseka) is trying to enroll in politics, so he may say something different from what actually happened. Opposition parties in Sri Lanka are trying to bring him into politics, maybe as a third force. That is our government’s stand."
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said, "I have accordingly met earlier this afternoon with Her Excellency, Mrs. Patricia Butenis, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, to convey through Her Excellency the message that the Department of Homeland Security should forthwith desist from any endeavour to interview General Fonseka."
The Lankan government's stand comes at a time when it has demanded that Washington drop an attempt to question Fonseka over alleged human rights violations during the last phase of the war against the LTTE. The US Department of Homeland Security wants to interview Fonseka to gather information against the Lankan Defence Secretary Gotbaya Rajapakse. Fonseka is currently on a trip to the US.
timesnow
Health Minister of the North Western Provincial Council Asoka Wadigamangawa said fourteen schools in the Kurunegala town will be closed from tomorrow (6) after 3 children were found to be carrying the AH1N1 virus. The schools will be closed indefinitely and a decision on the date of reopening the schools will be made tomorrow.
dailymirror
dailymirror
