The Sri Lankan government has confirmed that the country`s senior military commander has left the United States, where the authorities had intended to interview him regarding alleged war crimes.

Chief of Defense Staff General Sarath Fonseka is to return to Sri Lanka from the United States on Thursday, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) informed parliament.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry confirmed that the General had left the United States. It said `The Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka left the United States this morning to return to Colombo. He was not subjected to any questioning prior to his departure by the United States Department of Homeland Security or any other agency of the US Government.`

Interview request for 4th November

The statement also confirmed that General Fonseka was requested to appear for an interview by US authorities. `It would be recalled that towards the end of last month, the General who was then in the United States received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security requesting that he present himself for an interview on the 4th of November in Okhlahama City. Subsequently, there was also a telephone call from an official of the Department of Homeland Security to the General.`

Foreign Ministry statement praised US authorities` `receptive and constructive attitude,` which allowed General Sarath Fonseka to complete his visit without being questioned by the US Department of Homeland Security.

Evidence against Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse

General Fonseka holds US permanent residency and travelled to Oklahoma last week to visit his family. Sri Lanka had said it feared the Department of Homeland Security would try to force Fonseka to provide evidence against Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, who holds US citizenship, over alleged human rights violations.

US State Department report presented to Congress last month charged that both the government and Tamil Tigers were involved in human rights violations in the final months of the war.

General Fonseka, Who was the commander of the Army was mentioned in the US report.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) member of parliament, Samantha Vidyaratne welcomed Fonseka`s imminent return in parliament `In the same way this brave soldier rid the country of terrorism, he is now on his way home without betraying the nation.`