The former head of Sri Lanka's army Sarath Fonseka called to be reinstated as a Member of Parliament, stating he was prepared to go to court to gain his seat back.
“Our party members will be pleased if we are given back this seat because we too played a role in the victory of this Government,” said Mr Fonseka, highlighting Sri Lankan President Maithripalal Sirisena's election victory earlier this year.
Noting that the government has restored the former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, before she subsequently resigned, Mr Fonseka said,
He also called for disciplinary action against the three commanders of Sri Lanka's security forces, stating they had planned to assist in a coup allegedly planned by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the night of Sri Lanka's presidential elections.
His presence in the new government has been highlighted by Human Rights Watch who stated it would politicise any domestic probe into mass atrocities and by British politicians who note that he is accused of war crimes. In an interview with the Times of India shortly after the new government took to office, he claimed credit for ending the armed conflict in 2009, which saw the deaths of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians, stating he had “planned the entire operation”.
Sri Lanka's new president pardons Fonseka (21 Jan 2015)
Fonseka to contest in Sri Lanka's parliamentary elections (17 Jan 2015)
'I planned the entire operation' states Fonseka (12 Jan 2015)
“Our party members will be pleased if we are given back this seat because we too played a role in the victory of this Government,” said Mr Fonseka, highlighting Sri Lankan President Maithripalal Sirisena's election victory earlier this year.
Noting that the government has restored the former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, before she subsequently resigned, Mr Fonseka said,
“The Government decided that the impeachment of Dr. Bandaranayake was null and void and as such should be reinstated in her post. Similarly there are no allegations against me either and my rights, privileges and decorations were restored to me.”Mr Fonseka was restored of all his military awards and privileges, as well as being pardoned from all charges laid against him by the previous government by Mr Sirisena.
“Therefore, I too must have access to my parliamentary seat. This is how we perceive this issue.”
He also called for disciplinary action against the three commanders of Sri Lanka's security forces, stating they had planned to assist in a coup allegedly planned by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the night of Sri Lanka's presidential elections.
His presence in the new government has been highlighted by Human Rights Watch who stated it would politicise any domestic probe into mass atrocities and by British politicians who note that he is accused of war crimes. In an interview with the Times of India shortly after the new government took to office, he claimed credit for ending the armed conflict in 2009, which saw the deaths of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians, stating he had “planned the entire operation”.
Sri Lanka's new president pardons Fonseka (21 Jan 2015)
Fonseka to contest in Sri Lanka's parliamentary elections (17 Jan 2015)
'I planned the entire operation' states Fonseka (12 Jan 2015)