Colombo: Sri Lankan Army on Thursday said its
detained former chief Gen Sarath Fonseka tried to evade court
martial proceedings on grounds of ill-health, but his counsel
persuaded him to appear before the panel.
Fonseka, who is currently under the Army custody, was
asked to appear before the Second Court Martial yesterday
afternoon after he presented himself before the first Court
Martial earlier in the day.
"Though General Fonseka was trying to evade Wednesday
afternoon`s second Court Martial on grounds of ill-health, his
defence counsel after advising their client however managed to
bring him back to the Court Martial for hearing," the Army
said in a statement.
The two Courts Martial, probing into charges against
Fonseka, were convened to resume their sittings yesterday.
While the first court martial was adjourned until June
1, the next hearing of the court martial would be held on May
24.
Stating that he was medically unfit, Fonseka said he
did not wish to appear before the second Court Martial, the
statement said, adding that his complaint of sickness prompted
a medical specialist and a medical officer to examine him.
"Medical officers after examination maintained that
General Fonseka was not physically unfit to appear before the
Court Martial," the statement said.
Fonseka had yesterday went on a fast after authorities
refused to allow him to attend Parliament.
Fonseka has been accused of breaching standard
military procedures while purchasing arms and ammunitions
during his tenure as Army Commander.
PTI
