The former Sri Lankan Army chief, Sarath Fonseka, who was convicted on Friday by a court martial on charges of indulging in politics while in the Army, faces a second military court over allegations of irregularities in military purchases.
General (retired) Fonseka has been accused of favouring a firm with which his son-in-law is associated in the purchase of certain equipment by the military during his tenure as the Army chief.
The retired General, who unsuccessfully contested against President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the January presidential election, had challenged the validity of the two Courts Martial to no avail.
A statement by the Army on the indictment said court martial 1, probing charges against General (retired) Fonseka's participation in political work while in active service, convicted him of all three charges. “The Court is to decide on the sentence and convey it to the convening authority, HE the President who is the confirming officer as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. “The convening authority will subsequently convey to the accused, General Sarath Fonseka the sentence meted out to him by the Court, subsequent to the confirmation of the sentence”.
The court martial 1 commenced its sittings in March in accordance with provisions in the Army Act after it was appointed by Mr. Rajapaksa.
