Fonseka Held at Navy HQ Meets Wife, Denies Charges

`Vol. 29 No. 75 Wednesday 10th February, 2010, 32 Pages Rs. 20 Registered in Sri Lanka as a Newspaper – Late City Edition Remembering Upali ollowing the extension of emergency laws Parliament which was formed in early April 2004. The 27th anniver- by another month last Friday (Feb 5), President Rajapaksa won a second term with an sary of the disap- FPresident Mahinda Rajapaksa dissolved overwhelming 1.8 million-vote majority at the pearance of Mr. Parliament with effect from Wednesday (Feb 10) January 26 polls, but his new term will begin on Upali Wijewardene, and called for general election likely before the November 19, 2010. the Founder forthcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The term of the sixth Parliament was sched- Chairman of Upali The President, who returned from a three-day uled to end on April 22. Group, falls on official visit to Russia earlier in the day, dissolved February 13. the then President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s Continued on page 7 The Upali Group, its employees and sales agents islandwide have made arrangements to commemorate the anniversary with religious cere- monies such as Buddha Poojas, Sil, meditation, alms giving and blood donation campaigns. Fonseka held at Navy HQ A special Bodhi Pooja will be held at the Kelani Rajamaha Continued on page 7

meets wife, denies charges Purchase of drugs locally

President Mahinda SPMC need Rajapaksa yesterday He kicked army officer and was removed with his chair returned from his first offi- not call for cial trip since0 his re-elec- by Norman Palihawadena tion to Russia beginning tenders last Saturday (Feb 6). eneral (retd) Sarath Fonseka, who was arrested by the Military Police on Monday evening, has by Dilanthi Jayamanne Grequested that he be permitted to meet his The State Pharmaceutical lawyers. High ranking government sources said that he Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) would be allowed that facility. has been given Cabinet approval to Sources said contrary to a claim by Fonseka’s wife purchase drugs locally without call- Gota that she had sought ICRC help to trace him, he was ing for tenders. The Health Ministry being kept in an apartment at the Navy Headquarters said yesterday (09) that the SPMC speaks and she had visited him there. “The moment she made a was planning to manufacture 270 request to the Defence Ministry, she was given access to more essential drugs. out her husband,” a senior defence official said. The SPMC currently manufac- Fonseka was arrested on allegations that he had tured seventy drugs, he said. Several See p 6 revealed military secrets and conspired to overthrow hospitals were in a dilemma due to the government. the non availability of certain drugs When the Military Police attempted to arrest him, during the last two to three months. Fonseka had, while being seated, kicked one of the offi- The emergency situation following ‘Fonseka cers, sources said. “That prompted soldiers to take him the establishment of welfare camps out with his chair.” for the internally displaced last year The arrest was made just hours after he challenged and the banning of certain drugs revealed State manufactured by five Indian drug the government to arrest him without harassing his companies following the discovery of supporters. He also declared that he wouldn’t protect glass and plastic particles had led to a secrets’ anyone, who had given illegal orders to the army during minor drug shortage in the country. the war though he would stand by his officers and men. by Harischandra The Ministry had dispatched a During the initial interrogation he had dismissed Gunaratna team from the State Pharmaceutical claims that he divulged military secrets or conspired to Corporation last month to India to Defence Spokesman overthrow the government, sources said. urgently purchase 40 varities of Minister Keheliya Rambu- So far, 40 suspects, including retired and serving essential drugs to overcome the kwella yesterday said that Army personnel of various ranks, have been arrested shortage. the over the same allegations. A tearful wife of former army chief Gen. Sarath Fonseka addresses the media. The Cabinet approval to the SPMC Directorate Sources said he had been provided with all comforts, She claimed that she was unaware of the place where Fonseka was being to carry out local purchasing would of Military medical facilities and permission to see his family mem- detained. help save the costs on import and bers. Intelligence Pic by Nishan S. Priyantha funds would remain within the coun- was investi- try, a Health Ministry spokesman said. gating alle- gations that defeated Rajapaksas have done to Fonseka Govt. should reveal on whose Opposition presidential Maj.Gen Prasad what LTTE could not do – Jt. Opp. complaint Fonseka was arrested CPC chief candidate Samarasinghe by Zacki Jabbar – Kiriella Gen (retd) Fonseka without life saving medication Sarath Fonseka had The government was be the denies coup leaked discussions at the Leaders of the joint opposition, ernment has no doubt greatly pleased duty bound to reveal on judge as National Security Council which backed Sarath Fonseka at last the pro-LTTE supporters all over the whose complaint well.” allegations to outsiders and his rela- month’s Presidential Election, said yes- world, by doing what the Organisation General (retd) Sarath Kiriella Chairman and Managing Director tionship with politicians terday that the Rajapaksa regime by get- failed to do in April 2006. There is no Fonseka had been taken said that of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation supportive of the LTTE’s ting Major General Sumith Manawadu doubt that only the ruling elite will into custody by the the 1962 Major General (retd) Ashoka cause. The Minister to abuse , assault and abducting rejoice at this brutal arrest because the army on Monday night, coup attempt by some Thoradeniya yesterday denied accused the former Chief Fonseka from his Colombo office on country at large, is deeply grieved by the UNP MP Lakshman army officers had been reports that he and several other of Defence Staff of reveal- Monday night, had done what the LTTE turn of events. The administration of Kiriella said yesterday. investigated on a com- retired army officers had been involved in a conspiracy to topple the ing sensitive information dearly wanted to do, but couldn’t. President Mahinda Rajapaksa Addressing a news plaint made by the then government. to the enemies of the “In arresting Gen. Fonseka, the gov- Continued on conference in Colombo, DIG Stanley page 2 In a statement issued to the media, State. he said that the govern- Senanayake. Similarly, he said: He said that the former ment could not be the there had to be a com- “I wish to inform you that a for- Army Chief could be Just for formality’s sake complainant and judge plaint by someone other eign magazine, a website and a local Court-martialled. both. “The Commander than the government to newspaper recently reported that, I The Military Police in Chief of the Army is investigate the allega- have been involved in a conspiracy arrested Fonseka on President Mahinda tions against Fonseka. along with several other retired Monday night at his Rajapaksa, so he cannot Army officers. Rajakeeya Mawatha office Continued on page 7 “They also reported that Brigadier in Colombo 07. D. C. Keppetivalana has visited me at Responding to queries, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation on Military Spokesman Maj the 6th January 2010, to discuss about UN appeals for post-poll restraint the said conspiracy to topple the pres- Gen. Prasad United Nations New York yesterday, a ent government. Samarasinghe said the Secretary General Ban spokesperson for Moon “Brigadier D. C. Keppetivalana retired General would be Ki-Moon has reiterated said, “The peaceful con- was a student at the Maliyadeva tried for alleged offences his appeal to all parties duct of the first post-con- College, Kurunegala during the same committed under the in Sri Lanka and their flict national election period as me. He is also a distant rela- Army Act and if there supporters to show and its aftermath is of tive of mine. He came to see me at my were any other charges he restraint and refrain the highest importance office on the 5th January 2010 to get SLFP nominations Board comprising North Central Province Chief Minister Berty from violence after the for long term peace and would be dealt with in a Premlal Dissanayake, Nuwara Eliya District parliamentarian and Livestock some advice, as he had been penal- civilian Court. arrest of the defeated reconciliation in Sri ized and transferred to the Army Development Minister C. B. Ratnayake and Secretary of the SLFP Lawyers Opposition presidential Lanka.” “Fonseka can retain a Head quarters over an incident, Association Champani Padmasekera interviewed prospective SLFP candidates for candidate Sarath The Secretary-General lawyer of his choice and the forthcoming parliamentary elections at the Mahaweli Centre in Colombo yester- where some of his relatives had visit- Fonseka. also urged Sri Lankans ed him at the Army Combat Training the lawyer as well as his day. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Namal being interviewed by the Board. Responding to ques- to adhere to the (Photo-Sujatha Jayaratne) School at Ampara. family members will be tions from journalists in Continued on page 7 given unhindered access Continued on page 7 to him,” he said. Mrs. Fonseka had requested access to the JHU to field five on UPFA ticket detained General and per- The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has Rathana thera, the other four would be lay- field candidates are Kandy, Kurunegala and mission had been granted decided to contest five districts on the UPFA men. The monk, a sitting MP, would contest Kalutara. Moves by several other monks to yesterday afternoon , ticket at the forthcoming general election. the Gampaha District and Minister Patali contest in other districts were rejected by Samarasinghe said. JHU sources said they would put forward Champika Ranawaka would contest in the the JHU Central Committee, at its meeting one candidate per district. Colombo District. on February 2. Continued on page 7 However, except for one monk, Athureliye The other districts where the JHU will