Lankan SC refuses to release Fonseka

In a setback to Gen Sarath Fonseka's freedom bid,the Sri Lankan Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to order the release of the ex-army chief.

In a setback to Gen Sarath Fonseka’s freedom bid,the Sri Lankan Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to order the release of the ex-army chief arrested on conspiracy charges,saying a military enquiry was pending against him.

An apex court bench comprising Justices Shirani Bandaranayake,Jagath Balapatabendi and K Sripavan,however,allowed his immediate family members and lawyers access to Fonseka,who was the joint opposition candidate in the January 26 Presidential polls and was defeated by incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The development came in response to a fundamental rights petition filed by 59-year-old Fonseka through his wife Anoma,seeking his immediate release from custody.

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While refusing to order the release of Fonseka,the Supreme Court observed that a military enquiry was pending against the former army chief. It scheduled the next hearing for April 26.

The petition challenging the arrest of Fonseka was admitted by the apex court on February 12. It sought freedom from torture,arbitrary arrest and detention. In the petition,Anoma had asked the court to rule her husband’s arrest as illegal and order the government to allow the family of Fonseka to visit him.

At that time,the Attorney General had given an undertaking that Gen Fonseka would not be transferred from the place where he was being detained at the moment.

The Generals wife had been visiting Fonseka at the Navy Headquarters,where he had been detained since his arrest on February 8. The government had said that he was being looked after well with all basic comforts and requirements,such as medical facilities,being provided to him.