Sri Lanka's new president, Maithripala Sirisena, cleared the country's former army commander, General Sarath Fonseka, of all charges laid against him by the previous government.
Mr Sirisena's media division said that General Fonseka had been granted a pardon and a "complete amnesty" by the president. His rank and military privileges will also be restored the president's media division added.
During his election campaign, Mr Sirisena assured General Fonseka that he would restore all his civic rights and military honours if elected as president, the state owned news site, News.Lk reported.
General Fonseka was the army commander at during the end of the armed conflict, when according to an UN Panel of Experts report over 40,000 Tamil civilians died and there were widespread reports of extrajudicial killings, rape and torture by Sri Lankan troops.
Following the end of the armed conflict, he contested the 2010 presidential election against the former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, however he was later imprisoned by Mr Rajapaksa and stripped off his rank on accusations of conspiracy to overthrow the then government.
Mr Sirisena's media division said that General Fonseka had been granted a pardon and a "complete amnesty" by the president. His rank and military privileges will also be restored the president's media division added.
During his election campaign, Mr Sirisena assured General Fonseka that he would restore all his civic rights and military honours if elected as president, the state owned news site, News.Lk reported.
General Fonseka was the army commander at during the end of the armed conflict, when according to an UN Panel of Experts report over 40,000 Tamil civilians died and there were widespread reports of extrajudicial killings, rape and torture by Sri Lankan troops.
Following the end of the armed conflict, he contested the 2010 presidential election against the former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, however he was later imprisoned by Mr Rajapaksa and stripped off his rank on accusations of conspiracy to overthrow the then government.