President Mahinda Rajapaksa has used a presidential pardon to grant the former army General Sarath Fonseka release from prison, after he was jailed in 2010.

Around 2,000 supporters greeted Fonseka at his release, waving the Sri Lankan flag and chanting,

"Victory to our war hero! Victory to our leader!"

Photograph: Courtesy of Daily Mirror

Photograph: Courtesy of Ceylon Today

Supporter Tiran Alles stated that,

“They were waiting for this moment. That is why everybody is celebrating all over the country.”

Another supporter went on to tell the BBC,

"He is the true leader who liberated this country from 30 years of war."

Presidential spokesperson Bandula Jayasekara denied that international pressure on Sri Lanka had led to the former General’s pardon, after Foreign Minister Peiris met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier this week. Denying allegations of human rights criticism, Jayasekara said,

“This has got nothing to do with international and national pressure. People have peace after 26 years of terrorism. The world should be happy about it.”

Fonseka is widely credited as one of the architects of Sri Lanka’s assault on the Vanni, an onslaught that saw at least 40,000 civilians killed.

In November 2011, Fonseka was sentenced to a further 3 years after giving an interview to the Sunday Leader, alleging Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave direct orders to shoot surrendering cadres. He swiftly backtracked on his statement.

Meanwhile, a group of over 200 Tamil prisoners, many of whom have been held for years without charge, on hunger strike told the BBC,

"If Mr Fonseka - who has been convicted - can be freed why not us who haven't even been charged?"