DNA calls for protest on Fonseka

The DNA today requested people to stage protests in every town on March 16th when its Leader Gen. Sarath Fonseka is taken before a Court Martial.  The party also asked people to conduct Bodhi Poojas and other religious ceremonies on the day.

Addressing a press conference, DNA stalwart JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that there are only two main charges against Gen. Fonseka who is now in military custody. 

Of them, Mr. Dissanayake said, Gen. Fonseka had been charged for alleged irregularities in the procurement of two CCTV systems, VHS Direction Finders, 12 V Maintenance Free Batteries 50, and 250 Day Vision Binoculars. 

“This is the transaction in question. They have even failed to find major charges against Gen. Fonseka who has now been detained for more than a month. Earlier, there was a controversial deal with regard to the procurement of MiG aircraft. Why did not they conduct investigations into it?” he asked.

Experts only after Pascoe’s visit

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will appoint members to his expert committee only after UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Mr. Lynn Pascoe visits Sri Lanka to hold discussions with the government, a top UN official in New York told Daily Mirror online. When questioned about the date of Mr. Pascoe’s visit to the island, the official said that the UN Chief was currently finalizing the details of his visit.

“Mr. Ban Ki-moon is yet to finalize the date. However he has stated that he will appoint his expert committee members only after Mr. Pascoe visits Sri Lanka,” the official said. The official added that Mr. Ban Ki-moon was also unofficially preparing the number and names of the members he would appoint to his expert committee. Meanwhile Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, Dr. Palitha Kohona, speaking to Daily Mirror online, insisted that the UN Secretary General has not yet appointed any commitee.