Fonseka sentenced for 3 years in another case

Former Sri Lankan military chief and presidential candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka addresses the media in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa won a resounding re-election victory Wednesday, beating back a challenge from Fonseka, who rejected the official results and told the electoral commission in a letter that he would initiate legal proceedings to have the vote annulled. (AP Photo)

A three-judge Bench of the Colombo High Court on Friday sentenced Sri Lanka’s Former Army chief Sarath Fonseka to three years in prison after he was found guilty of “inciting violence” in the ‘White Flag Case.’

In interview given to an English Daily, the Sunday Leader, soon after the war, Mr.Fonseka, 60, had alleged that Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered the killing of LTTE cadres wanting to surrender with white flags. Mr.Fonseka claimed that he was quoted out of context.

Mr. Fonseka is already serving a 30-month jail term imposed by a court martial.

Mr.Gotabaya also deposed in the fairly long drawn out trial, which continued 16 months. The Sunday Leader reporter who interviewed the former General, had received death threats a few weeks ago. She had received a vulgar letter by post and had filed a complaint with the police.

Mr. Fonseka has also been charged with harbouring an army deserter. He had challenged President Rajapaksa in the November 2010 presidential elections.