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Gen. Fonseka’s son-in-law Danuna ‘finds his voice’
The defeat of General Sarath Fonseka at the 2010 presidential election, and his subsequent arrest, was the beginning of a long ordeal, not only for him, but also for many of his relatives, chief among them his son-in-law Danuna Tillakaratne.
Danuna (34), who went into hiding before his impending arrest for his alleged involvement in the import of military hardware through a company called HiCorp, surrendered to the Colombo High Court on December 18, nearly five years since his disappearance, and was released on bail.
Danuna: “I will reveal details of how I survived and managed to evade capture”. Pic by Indika Handuwala
Though he and some of his family members still face many legal woes, Danuna spoke to the Sunday Times about the circumstances that led to his arrest, but chose to remain mum on his whereabouts during the years he went missing. “I am unable to answer that question at present. I will reveal details of how I survived and managed to evade capture, and the ordeals I faced, at a later date, once I am assured of the safety of the people who helped me survive during those years,” was all he was willing to say when asked if he had been hiding in Sri Lanka or abroad.
Danuna who was living in the USA, returned to Sri Lanka in 2010 to help out in his father-in-law’s election campaign. The CID summoned him for questioning during the presidential election campaign, but on the morning he was to report to the CID, he was informed that the summons had been withdrawn.
However, a few days later, Danuna said he received information “from very credible sources”, that he was to be unlawfully detained and forced to act in a manner that would be detrimental to the interests of his father-in-law, General Fonseka.” In view of this, he had been advised by his close and trusted associates not to surrender to Police, but instead, evade arrest to ensure his safety.
When Danuna went into hiding, he had no idea of the magnitude of the manhunt that would be launched to locate him. His name was included in Interpol’s ‘Wanted List’, while posters were put up offering Rs 1 million as reward for information about his whereabouts.
Among the next-of-kin hauled up before courts was his mother Asoka Tillkaratne, against whom a case is pending in connection with non-declaration of monies kept in a bank deposit box, while his 82-year-old grandaunt was charged for harboring Danuna for a day in her home, but was subsequently cleared of the charges.
The harassment, he says, did not stop with his family members, but many of his friends too were questioned, their houses searched, phones tapped and kept under surveillance for many months.
He decided to come out of hiding last December on the advice of close confidantes who told him that, as the political dynamics were changing in the country, it was a more conducive time for him to surrender to court, even though he risked being remanded.
Danuna says no deals were made with politicians before he reappeared. “No political deals were made with the Government, in order for me to be granted bail. I was ready to be remanded if bail had been denied,” he said.
Danuna denies any wrongdoing and says he will continue his legal battle to clear his name as well as the charges that have been leveled at other members of his family “The time I lost with my wife, family and friends can never be regained. The mental agonies we suffered cannot be compensated, but despite that, we have endured,” he added.
| Charges against Danuna Danuna Tillakartane is charged with committing offences under the Public Properties Act by violating Tender procedures with regard to import of several items for the Sri Lanka Army, during the period 2007-2008, when his father-in-law, General Sarath Fonseka was the Army Commander. He, along with General Fonseka and another person, were charged with producing forged documents in connection with the supply of 80 generators, 50 batteries, 5 compasses and 484 night vision cameras. The case against General Fonseka was dismissed by the Colombo High Court in 2012, on the grounds he had been found guilty by a Court Martial in connection with the same charges, and cannot be charged twice for the same offence. The case against Danuna Tillakaratne will be heard again next month. |