Colombo: Thousands of opposition
supporters in Sri Lanka on Wednesday held protests demanding the
release of former army chief and defeated presidential
candidate Sarath Fonseka.
The United National Party, the island's main
opposition group, led a march through Colombo to campaign for
Fonseka, who is serving a 30-month prison sentence after being
arrested by the military a year ago.
Today's protest followed a sit-down demonstration
outside the prison where Fonseka is being held.
Police were on duty to prevent a repeat of Friday's
violence when government supporters clashed with Fonseka
loyalists.
Fonseka is widely credited with leading government
troops to a crushing victory over Tamil Tiger rebels and
ending the island's decades-long separatist war in May 2009.
However, he then fell out with President Mahinda Rajapakse.
A court martial in September found him guilty of
irregularities when he was army chief and also stripped him of
his pension and medals.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, February 09, 2011, 21:39