Presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka, who was holed up at a leading hotel in Colombo, left the premises a short while ago and is now on his way to his house, an aide of General Fonseka told Daily Mirror online.

The General had been at the hotel since last night and refused to leave the premises today claiming there were moves to arrest him. He also said that his security contingent had been removed by the government and that now he was under threat. 

The aide close to the General said that troops who had surrounded the hotel where he was staying attempted to search his vehicle at first when he left the premises a short while ago but later had decided not to do so.  (DS)