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Media to be quizzed over coup plot

7 February 2010 12:30 pm - 56     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lankan authorities are likely to question several media persons, who were present at a Colombo hotel during defeated opposition presidential candidate Gen Sarath Fonseka's stay there, over the alleged plot by him to stage a coup and assassinate incumbent Mahinada Rajapaksa.

"The purpose is to get information as to what (former army chief) Sarath Fonseka's officials planned by detaining them within the hotel rooms," the government's website quoted defence sources as saying.

Authorities are already interrogating army "deserters" over the alleged coup plot by Fonseka, who was trounced by Rajapaksa in the January 26 Presidential poll.

Several media persons were present at the hotel, where Fonseka had moved in a day after the polls.

"Comprehensive inquiries are already in progress on the alleged plan mooted by the Sarath Fonseka group to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the announcement of the Presidential election results (on January 27)," the website said.

Fonseka and his supporters were staying in more than 70 rooms of the hotel from where army deserters carrying weapons were arrested, it said, adding that those held were still under interrogation.

According to investigators, the recovery of explosives from some areas before the Presidential polls is linked to the President's assassination plot, the government website said.

The areas included Gokarella and Deniyaya in southern Sri Lanka and Maligawatee in Colombo suburbs.  (Express India)


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  Comments - 56

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  • Monday, 08 February 2010 10:14 AM

    If anybody tried to overthrow the government with a handfull of ex-servicemen, something must be seriously wrong with 200,000+ army. Please do not disgrace this sercicemen. it does not mean once the LTTE is destroyed, soldiers are dust as the govermnet is treating them now.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 07:52 AM

    After the Election results, we know he has doctorate from Iran,Burma and Zimbabwe.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 07:57 AM

    What's going on in this country? People are given a raw deal on right to information and right to express!!!!! There is much more to this story than what is being told and everyone keeps mum. If there was a conspiracy all should be arrested including SF and his allies. Conspiracy to overthorw an elected governmant is "high treason" and death panelty is MANDATORY or was it a counter coup?????? Api okkotama SUBA ANAGATHAYAK

    Monday, 08 February 2010 08:45 AM

    I am not sure about India but China & Pakistan will give for his thesis on Vote stealing and Election rigging respectively.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 08:48 AM

    This kind of witch hunt is just what one would expect from a government who won by rigging the election.. beacuse they have no confidence at all that they have the blessings of the people. These ppl seem to be plagued by insecurity. & MR just after the result was announced & appeared in public looked guilty as hell.So all this tomfoolery is in keeping with what most people believe happned on the 27th..

    Monday, 08 February 2010 08:58 AM

    All these allegations and fabrications are untill General Election is rigged.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 09:02 AM

    That is the story behind these fabrications , but all these are until the General Election is over and won by rigging. These guys need to silent all SF supporters.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 09:28 AM

    whole world knows that the govt is bluffing. trying to corner general & attack. According to Govt., theere shouldn't be an opposition. one by one media men are being killed by the govt. if General wanted to over throw the Govt , he would have done that before giving up the Uniform.
    Govt dirty tricks are at unprecedented levels. All war heroes are now jailed . Before the election IDI AMIN film was aired. Govt showed it's tru intention. so IDI AMIN is now in power. will eat the flesh of war heroes & drink their blood

    Monday, 08 February 2010 09:29 AM

    Another lie. Istn't this sickening. The govt must resign immediately. They are not competent to rule.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 09:32 AM

    MR be careful of your own siblings..........who knows ...........

    Monday, 08 February 2010 09:42 AM

    Lots of first times. I thought the war was over. Why is MR buying Arms from Russia ? Maybe Prabhakaran will mysteriously appear one of these days as well.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 09:53 AM

    When will progress start ? By the time the whole country is quizzed and eliminated only the Rajapakshas will be left.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 10:05 AM

    I think he has already acquired a doctorate from Iran, Burma and Zimbabwe by winning the reeclection by doctored result.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 10:10 AM

    These witch hunts, chaining retired army men, forcefull entry to a renown tourist hotel etc....reminds me the Idi Amin ruled UGANDA.The President needs better advicers than third grade beards and loud mouths.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 07:51 AM

    MR - PRABA SAGA OVER NOW MR - SF when will we all get to live in peace ?....

    Monday, 08 February 2010 10:16 AM

    you are right,, I think they are harrassed so much because they know they didn;t really win,,, they know it was not a peoples verdict!!!!!!

    Monday, 08 February 2010 10:18 AM

    I Agree with M Perera. Stop this and do some thing to the country. and stop third grade work. which only worth Rs 2.50.
    SF will be victoriuos in that accusation too. The liars cannot wait without getting caught for long

    Let Sri Lanka Live with Justice and Democracy... like Martin Luther King Jr mentioned in his great speech "I DREAM"

    Monday, 08 February 2010 10:35 AM

    Can these journalists testify in a military court?

    Monday, 08 February 2010 10:39 AM

    Fonseka should be ashamed.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 11:47 AM

    IF THE ELECTION WAS WON BY MR BY A BIG MAJORITY WHY THEY ARE NOW RUNNING BEHIND SF, IT SHOWS THAT THE ELECTIONS HAS BEING RIGGED. SO MR IS FRIGHTEN. WHY GOING BEHIND THE LOST PERSON. COME ON MR BEING A BUDDIST TRY TO FOLLOW THE TEACHING OF BUDDHA. FFORGET THE PAST TRY TO SAVE THE POOR PEOPLE OF SRILANKA, OR SRILANKA WILL BE WORST THAN ZIMBABWE.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 12:38 PM

    Why is MR and his brothers so afraid of the media?If MR has won convincingly why go on a witch hunt? It is like Myke Tyson mauling his opponent when he had given a knock out.It is not fairplay.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 01:02 PM

    what a nice story to make....
    Good story for film directors to make a film...

    Monday, 08 February 2010 01:11 PM

    1st Charge: Insulting the head of the state naming him as an ....t
    2nd Charge: Revealing a State Secret !.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 01:27 PM

    Mother of all diversions. Real plotting was going on at Ec's office and Water's Edge.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 01:33 PM

    Citizens in our Banana Republic needs constant entertainment in the form of conspiracy theories and villains!!!

    Monday, 08 February 2010 01:50 PM

    why not india ? they are one of the leading human right violators like china and iran (using fear to rule the nation) old tactic yet effective :-)

    Monday, 08 February 2010 01:57 PM

    real time idiot ... Upul how old are you ? u might be also interested in Snow White, Beauty & the Beast, Sleeping Beauty ext...

    Monday, 08 February 2010 02:12 PM

    Better to chnage the last sentence as follows:
    AS FAR AS PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE THE MAJORITY, EVEN TRIPLE GEM CAN NOT DO MUCH. WE PEOPLE GET THE GOVERNMENT WE DESERVE.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 04:30 AM

    naughty boys must be tamed.

    Sunday, 07 February 2010 08:50 PM

    the president is contral of the Media, Judicial, police, MR Dissanayaka for his manupuliation.

    Sunday, 07 February 2010 09:41 PM

    When Rajapaksas ripped the election in broad daylight, can anyone believe what the government is saying?

    Sunday, 07 February 2010 09:47 PM

    There's always some gunpowder plot...

    Monday, 08 February 2010 12:34 AM

    See Mahinda is trying to preserve democracy and SF is trying to pulverise it. Whata world. Isnt this the best comedy of the year. I will bet .. it will be.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 01:13 AM

    As MR Predicted SF lost. Finally he will beg the Pardon from our Presiden. As he promised MR will pardon SF. That is better for SL.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 01:40 AM

    now showing "general election" drama.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 01:56 AM

    Authorities can quize 1000s of people but they never get the answer they want because the bogus situation created by them to frame General was never existed.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 03:00 AM

    Witch Hunt??? Not healthty for our democratic country!

    Monday, 08 February 2010 03:42 AM

    The freedom of speech in a democratic country, presidental election. was a mess you are didator. you brought even MR . Dissanaka to support you he finding fault in election all iillegal meathod. the westran country knew the election win by didator. srilanka is not a democratic country.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 04:14 AM

    1970-77, when GOSL didnt know what to do and what they were supposed to do, they had to live with one option. They talked of conspiracies hatched by the western nations and coups against a so called peoples government. Are we back to that era after 40 years????. The holy duty of a govt is to strengthen the democracy, accelerate the development but not talking of imaginary coups and conspiracies and waste several years for nothing..

    Monday, 08 February 2010 04:19 AM

    The President of Srilanka is going to get a Doctorate in India, China and Pasktan.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 04:21 AM

    The President of Srilanka will not get a doctorate in Western countries, but they are not JOKERS

    Monday, 08 February 2010 04:22 AM

    We are not out of "reading materials" these days. Sherlock Holmes is turning in the graveyard listening to these "detective stories". He (Holmes) would have been nowhere near our writers if he was alive today.

    Sunday, 07 February 2010 08:19 PM

    please do not fool the world . the journalist were killed and warned, some are ran away from the country . all people are worked for MR Fonsaka .

    Monday, 08 February 2010 04:52 AM

    Another drama expose ..........

    Monday, 08 February 2010 05:18 AM

    Nice story.... Trying to cover up their own crimes....

    Monday, 08 February 2010 05:23 AM

    Yes no stone should be left unturn to find tha facts of this conspiracy of SF to dip this country in a blood bath. Thank God to our President being left unharmed. AS FAR AS TRIPLE GEM IS EXISTING IN THIS COUNTRY NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO OUR PATRIOTIC LEADERS AND MASSES.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 05:31 AM

    For crying out loud, if the government says they have this much evidence of a coup, then arrest the people involved and let the land of the law deal with it without just making statements and accusations. If true, the evidence should be made public without the government coming with the lame excuse that they dont want to divulge information for some reason

    Monday, 08 February 2010 05:37 AM

    There have been so many allegations against SF - but upto now, NOT ONE HAS BEEN PROVEN. Either the govt is so dumb and inefficient that it cannot prove one, or the allegations are baseless. FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF SL AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, THE OPP CANDIDATE/S ARE BEING HARRASSED SO MUCH.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 06:48 AM

    Upul Karu - you seems to be not much aware of what is happing around you

    Monday, 08 February 2010 06:48 AM

    Dear Upul

    This conspiracy story will be there till the General Election is over. Ultimate results will be naturally in favor of MR just like the way he won PR Election (pirated) Do not drag Triple gem, such a religious blessing in to power hungry dictatorial leader who is trying get into history

    Monday, 08 February 2010 07:14 AM

    Hello Curiosity and others like him, Sri Lanka is not a banana republic to arrest individuals on the basis of rumours and hearsay. it is a country governed by law and order. GOSL will properly invesigate to establish the credibility of the emeging unfortunate story and take the necessary steps. we should not tarnish the image of our beloved country known for decency and good governance with dirty politics and the the wishes of poor loosers.

    Monday, 08 February 2010 07:21 AM

    I can't still understand y this government still harassing SF and suporters....they must understand the fact that if SF wasn't there the war could never end..u can imaging if there is no good leader in army what will happen to them..this is what exactly happening in the under this leader jagath j.....

    Monday, 08 February 2010 07:24 AM

    Yes, I rememeber as a Child, we stayed in queues, poeple were digging into garbage for food, earning power of the masses were less etc etc while the ministers and the prime ministers family were living on apples etc, flying all over. There was even medicine shortage......The govt was fooling the masses by creating a fear, sealing newspaper offices and arbitraliy arresting etc etc.... THIS IS A REPEAT

    Monday, 08 February 2010 07:26 AM

    Wait and see He will come gie you a bottele of milk and feed you

    Monday, 08 February 2010 07:26 AM

    yES, WHY NOT ARREST AND DEAL WITH THE LAW AND LETS MOVE FORWARD... NO NEED FOR THE MASSES TO BE DROWNED IN THESE ISSUES....WE NEED THE COST OF LIVING CONTROLLED AND LIVE A DECENT LIFE

    Monday, 08 February 2010 07:29 AM

    What goes around will come around. Stop this stupid coup business. SF was only carring a legitimate democratic election campaign. Get back to development and create a country where every one can live in harmony. Stop harrasing the supporters of SF. As a democratic country we always need an opposition to compete. If results are not produced your days will be numbered by people of Sri Lanka.


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