Colombo: Former Sri Lankan army chief Sarath
Fonseka, who is serving a 30-month jail term for corruption in
defence deals during his tenure, has been admitted to a prison
hospital following a brief illness.
"He was admitted to the hospital last night," a prison
officer said, without elaborating.
Earlier yesterday, 59-year-old Fonseka was taken to
Colombo High Court by prison officials to attend the hearing
of a case against him on his statement that the Defence
Secretary had ordered to shoot and kill the surrendered LTTE
cadres during the final phase of the war.
Fonseka was arrested after the January 26 presidential
election which he contested as the common opposition candidate
against the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa.
He was sentenced by a military court martial for 30
months in jail in late September after being convicted of
involvement in corruption in defence deals during his tenure
as army chief.
Earlier his military ranks were removed for indulging in
politics while in the uniform. He is facing several other
cases in civil courts too.
The former army commander, who successfully led the
troops to defeat the LTTE, sustained multiple injuries in a
suicide bomb attack on him in April 2006.
According to Fonseka's family, he still receives medical
attention for the injuries received in the LTTE attack.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, November 18, 2010, 00:14