Former Army Commander and DNA leader Sarath Fonseka has hit out at the government for issuing a directive to take back the 20 perches of land he was gifted for winning the 30-year separatist war.
Retired General Fonseka, now a parliamentarian from the Colombo District, told the Sunday Times in a telephone interview that the land at Kirimandala Mawatha in Colombo's Narahenpita area lawfully belonged to him and he had a copy of the deed that was given to him when he was gifted the land.
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| Gen. Fonseka |
"The Defence Secretary has kept the original of the deed with him and is now refusing to give it. When my wife went to see the land, she was chased away by the Police who said they had been asked not to allow anyone near the land," he said.
Retd. Gen. Fonseka who contested the presidential election in January and lost to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, also claimed that police had erected a hut in the land and are not allowing anyone to enter it.
Police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said yesterday the land belonged to the state but if anyone made a complaint saying it belonged to him, the police would investigate the case.
DNA parliamentarian Anura Kumara Disanayaka said if the land was not given back to Gen. Fonseka, they would go to courts.
Meanwhile, Gen. Fonskea said he would not attend Tuesday's hearing of the Court Martial inquiry against him as he would be attending Parliament.
He said that as Parliament business took precedence over any other matter, the hearing would have to be postponed by the military authorities.
"They will have to postpone the hearing as I will be attending Parliament on Tuesday and taking part in the debate on the extension of the emergency. As voting takes place in the evening, I will be in the House till sittings are over," he said.
Military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said a decision on whether to postpone the court martial hearing would be taken tomorrow.
Related Article: General fights new battle for land |
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