17 April 2010 09:26 am
Amidst speculation that General Sarath Fonseka is likely to be convicted at his next Court Martial hearing scheduled for April 19, Defence Ministry spokesman Lakshman Hulugalle stated that the possibility of conviction cannot be ruled out but stressed that the decision is in the hands of the judges.
Speaking to Daily Mirror online, Hulugalle said that the decision lies with the court judges and allegations that the government is trying to speed up the process to keep Fonseka out of parliament are baseless.
Fonseka's Democratic National Alliance (DNA) under which he won a seat in parliament at the recent general elections while in custody, strongly believes that the court martial called for Monday will convict Fonseka and block him from attending parliament which is scheduled to reconvene on April 22.
Hulugalle countered the allegations stating, “These are just political comments made by a politically defeated party. No one knows how proceedings will go on Monday, the ultimate decision lies with the judges.”
Fonseka was arrested on February 8 and is charged with entering politics while in uniform and making irregular army procurements. (Daily Mirror online)