President Mahinda Rajapaksa today reiterated his earlier position that former Army Commander, Sarath Fonseka could be released on condition that a member of his family makes a direct appeal for clemency.
The President was reacting to a question during a breakfast meeting with editors of national newspapers and pother media organisations.
"The standard procedure will have to be followed before a release could be considered, and towards this end an appeal will have to be made by the family of the jailed army commander", he said.
He also confirmed that he had discussed the issue with the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) MP Tiran Alles during regular meetings between the two.
Alles is also the publisher of the newly launched Sinhala-language newspaper ‘Maubima’ and its sister English publication, ‘Ceylon Today’.
ST
