‘Fonseka should appeal to Rajapaksa, not White House'

3 December 2011 04:44 pm - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Jailed former Sri Lankan war hero, Sarath Fonseka, should appeal to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and not to the White House, presidential spokesman Bandula Jayasekara has said.

In a statement to The Hindu, he said: “We have read in the newspapers that Ms. Anoma Fonseka and her daughters are preparing a petition to be sent to the White House, residency and the office of the President of the United States of America. In her letter Ms. Apsara Fonseka [Fonseka's daughter] goes on to say “We are in need of international interference when it comes to justice…”

“What Ms. Fonseka could do is to make a direct appeal to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka, who may consider Ms. Fonseka's appeal sympathetically. It does not cost much to visit Temple Trees in Colombo 3, unlike the United States of America which is thousands of miles away. Ms. Fonseka should not follow the practice of the leader of the opposition and run to foreign governments and countries. President Mahinda Rajapaksa could be described as the most accessible head of state in the world.”

“It should not be forgotten that, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on humanitarian grounds, granted permission to Mr. Sarath Fonseka, to attend the funeral of his niece, when the normal practice is that people serving prison sentences are allowed only to attend the funerals of their immediate family members.

“When President Mahinda Rajapaksa was in prison [as a Member of Parliament then] he was not allowed to visit his ailing mother. When his mother passed away the then government did not allow him to attend his mother's funeral. He attended his mother's funeral with prison officials, only with the approval of the judge.” (Source: The Hindu)

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Comments - 15

Aristotle Saturday, 03 December 2011 05:16 PM

Please note that still Obama is arguably the most powerful man on the planet Earth.

mohammed Saturday, 03 December 2011 05:29 PM

Is it a signal of softness of him or bending to international pressure?

Milindha Morahela Saturday, 03 December 2011 05:52 PM

No way Bandula.SF is a man made of a different kind of Metal than you.He is a War Hero with a Back Bone!

Puran Saturday, 03 December 2011 06:47 PM

Sratah F is a man of principle and he will not stoop low to ask for a pardon or forgiveness

Chamara Sunday, 04 December 2011 12:07 AM

Bandula, sorry, I do not think you know that SF is a man of principles..

Sanka Sunday, 04 December 2011 02:01 AM

No way.. looks like u still liking shoes like u did in past..(Toronto)

Calistus Jayatilleke Sunday, 04 December 2011 02:22 AM

Going by the precedents created by the President in granting pardons, it appears that only double-murderesses, those who misappropriated public money and wife-killers were the ones who were pardoned so far. Since Fonseka is made of sterner stuff and does not belong to any ofthese categories, it can hardly be expected that he will beg for pardon here.

Nodrog Sunday, 04 December 2011 02:34 AM

All SF has now is his dignity and you will never take that away from him. This man has more character and courage than all of you put together.

Nodrog Sunday, 04 December 2011 02:45 AM

after 2600 years of 'culture' we still know nothing of compassion, humanity and forgiveness but more about keeping grudges and seeking revenge.

Prof Wickramatillake Sunday, 04 December 2011 02:52 AM

SF is no Grero, He is a Military man and tough. He might suffer in jail, no medical treatment, no fans and all that, but would die as a REAL hero from the South, may be in jail.

John Sunday, 04 December 2011 03:22 AM

SF has not done anything wrong. Why he should go and bend Rajapaksas.

s Sunday, 04 December 2011 03:23 AM

that is not an appeal ,IS A Petition
Don't u understand

Nihal Wijetunga Sunday, 04 December 2011 03:29 AM

Anoma dear dont give into pressure put on you to appeal for a pardon for your brave husband. Mahinda Rjapaksa is scared stif if the president of the U,S puts pressure on the world human rights commission and the Internationl court of justice to arrest this Fekkow. He will sure suffer the same fate as Gaddafi. Milossovic and Mubarak. Be brave the people are behind you.

Tintin Sunday, 04 December 2011 04:02 AM

MR can keep dreaming. SF wont budge an inch. He'd rather die in prison than do what Bandula suggests. And the sin will doom the consciences of all the perpetrators.

holynoughty Sunday, 04 December 2011 05:23 AM

Mr. Bandula. Please know that SF did not rape his own daughters or or kill any body to get president's pardon

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‘Fonseka should appeal to Rajapaksa, not White House'

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