Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

A new office of the SLMC in Batticaloa has been destroyed in an arson attack. The premises at Kathankudy were due to be opened by the Muslim party s leader, minister Rauff Hakeem later today (May 26). According to police, unidentified persons had set fire to the building in the early hours of this...

A new office of the SLMC in Batticaloa has been destroyed in an arson attack. The premises at Kathankudy were due to be opened by the Muslim party s leader, minister Rauff Hakeem later today (May 26). According to police, unidentified persons had set fire to the building in the early hours of this...

FJ: Why did the President grant a pardon to Sarath Fonseka? Why now?

GR: I don t want to answer anything about Sarath Fonseka no questions on Sarath Fonseka. Even the BBC asked I said I don t know anything it has nothing to do with me.

FJ: Many believe this was done because of international pressure, especially from Washington?

GR: I don t know. Ask the President I don t know it is nothing to do with me. I cannot comment on that because I don t know anything about that I am not interested. I have more work to concentrate on rehabilitation, resettlement, security in those areas those are things we have to move forward. A lot of things on development work. I don t want to get into this unnecessary confrontation.

FJ: But this is the question everybody is asking. Why was Sarath Fonseka given a pardon now?

GR: Nobody is asking these questions! It is only the media. The people are more interested in how we can move forward after the war. This is what I tell everybody, diplomats, everybody! Why do we want to get involved in these unnecessary things!

FJ: Well he was your former Army Commander and he was jailed .

GR: I don t know. You have to ask the President. I am not interested! I have not known any of these things. I have a lot of work to do you can see I am not sleeping there is demining, resettlement there are a lot of things we have to change. We are trying to bring back normalcy after the war.

FJ: Ok. Can I ask you a question that did involve you? Is it correct that you were against arresting Sarath Fonseka soon after the Presidential elections and you supported the move to grant him a pardon? Why?

GR: I don t know I don t know! I don t want to comment! I will stop the interview if you continue with this! We have to move forward . I am only an official. A Secretary. I am more interested in day to day things to move forward you can see the amount of work I am doing I am fully engaged in these things starting with the main function of security

Chief Government Whip Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday told parliament it was from the Opposition that threats emanated to the defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka as there were various factions demanding the credit for the former army chief s release.

The Minister said that the government was ready to consider providing security to the former MP if a formal request was made to that effect.

Minister Gunawardena was responding to a question raised by UNP Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekera.

Why Fking Indians?

Fonseka is certainly sending out right and appropriate signals to the people. so far. In his interviews to the media since his release, Fonseka had been stressing the need to fight corruption and abuse of power, which are issues that will appeal to all Sri Lankans irrespective of the language they speak or regions they belong to or where they live whether in Sri Lanka or abroad.

Then, the ruling party in Sri Lanka would realize that denying Fonseka the right to contest in election for the Presidency or Parliament for seven years would really mean nothing.

Pin Gonnu, thaththawai, Samaajawaadayai wikuna gena kanawa.