COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s president has dissolved Parliament to pave the way for legislative elections, a senior government official said Tuesday, a day after a leading opposition figure was arrested on charges of plotting to overthrow the government.
“Legislative elections will be held April 8 and the new Parliament will convene April 22,” Chandrapala Liyanage, a media officer at the president’s office said.
Incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa beat former army commander Gen. Sarath Fonseka by a landslide in last month’s presidential election. After losing the poll, Fonseka accused his former commander-in-chief of vote-rigging, vowing to challenge the results in court and stand for Parliament.
Troops arrested Fonseka, who quit the army in November to enter the presidential race, and the government said he would be court-martialed on charges of conspiring against the president.
Under Sri Lankan military law, the armed forces can arrest and try personnel who have left service for up to six months after their departure, defense spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told a news conference. Sri Lanka’s Government Information Department on Tuesday said Fonseka’s comments to reporters, quoted by the BBC, that he would testify in a war crimes probe proved his disloyalty to the troops he led to defeat the Tamil Tiger rebels and end a 25-year war.
“This report of BBC confirms beyond doubt that the retired general was hell-bent on betraying the gallant armed forces of Sri Lanka who saved the nation from the most ruthless terrorist group in the world,” the statement said.
Fonseka’s wife, Anoma, told reporters Tuesday that she has not been allowed to meet her husband or told where he is being held. “He was dragged like an animal,” Anoma said. “Is this what he gets for ending a 30-year war? He never wanted to topple the government, while he was in uniform. While he wore the uniform, he never talked about politics.”
Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Prasad Samarasinghe denied that Fonseka is cut off from family or friends. “Family members are allowed to see him, and he has been allowed to obtain legal advice also,” he said, adding that the former commander is not even in a cell.
