Fonseka challenges Rajapaksa win in Supreme Court

Sri Lankas defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka on Tuesday filed a petition in the Supreme Court here challenging...

Sri Lankas defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka on Tuesday filed a petition in the Supreme Court here challenging the results of the January 26 polls and accused President Mahinda Rajapaksa of rigging the vote.

In the petition,filed through his lawyers,former army chief Fonseka,who is now under detention,challenged the outcome of the elections and charged Rajapaksa,Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake and 20 others with rigging the vote and electoral malpractice. The petition sought a determination from the apex court that the election of President Rajapaksa at the recently held presidential elections was void.

JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe,Anura Kumara Dissanayaka,Sunil Handunnetti,Ravi Karunanayaka and John Ameratunge accompanied Fonsekas lawyers to the court. Fonseka,who lost the vote,alleged that he was robbed of victory because of rigging,electoral malpractice and undue influence of the government on the electorate. His petition contended that state media was also misused and malpractices had taken place at polling booths and counting centres.

Meanwhile,the whereabouts of Fonsekas son-in-law Danuna Tillakaratne are not known,the Daily Mirror Online quoted a police official as saying. When asked if Tillakaratne could have left the country,the official said he has not received any information to that effect and that the Criminal Investigations Department is probing his whereabouts to arrest him,the online said. A court here has issued a warrant for his arrest. PTI

Fonseka arrest not politically motivated: Lanka Foreign Minister

COLOMBO: Contending that even the President is not above law,Sri Lankan government has refuted charges that the arrest of defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka was politically motivated.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the government has informed the world community about the circumstances of Fonsekas arrest and that he was detained under military laws. Bogollagama said some sceptics have chosen to perceive the case as an example of political victimisation,but they were actually unaware of the true circumstances.

Fonseka,the former Army chief,who presided over the militarys victory over the Tamil Tigers,was arrested after the presidential polls and faces charges of plotting to topple the government and assassinating President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

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Bogollagama said the facts do not warrant the assumption that it was a case of political vendetta and there was no room for manipulation of law. No leader can break the law of the country. Even the President cant do that. These laws are commonly applicable to all citizens, he said. A Fundamental Rights Case on behalf of Fonseka is before the Supreme Court,he said.

PTI