SL Govt says Fonseka attempted to kill Prez; Gen denies

Sri Lankan Government hit back at defeated opposition candidate Gen Sarath Fonseka,alleging he had attempted to 'assassinate' President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family.

Sri Lankan Government on Thursday hit back at defeated opposition candidate Gen Sarath Fonseka,alleging he had attempted to “assassinate” President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family.

However,the former Army Chief rejected the allegation and termed it as “trumped up charges” to arrest him.

A day after Fonseka charged the Army with attempting to kill him and was seeking India’s protection,the Defence Ministry today claimed there was “ample evidence” to prove that the former Army Chief Fonseka hatched the conspiracy from two hotels in Colombo.

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Director of Media Centre for National Security Lakshman Hullugale claimed that the President and his family were to be assassinated along Galle Road in Colombo or at the Lake House Junction in the commerce hub of Fort.

He claimed nine army deserters,who were arrested from outside a hotel in the capital yesterday,were part of the plot and investigations into this are now underway.

Reacting to the allegation,Fonseka said: “These are trumped up charges to arrest me for an attempted coup.”

“My passport has been blacklisted and I cannot leave the country now,” he claimed.

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The Defence Ministry claimed nine army deserters,who were arrested from outside a hotel in the capital on Wednesday,were part of the plot and investigations into this are now underway.

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