Influential Sri Lankan Clergy Supports Fonseka as Clashes Continue
On fourth day of street protest on Sunday, hundreds of agitators who were demanding the release of defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka clashed with Sri Lankan police, said media reports.
Police spokesperson Prasanth Jayakody said that police had to resort to cane-charge to dispel crowd and that three policemen suffering minor injuries were hospitalized, said reports.
The protests were started in Sri Lanka following Fonseka’s arrest by military police on charges of engaging in politics against his President while still in uniform.
Reports said that influential clergy of the majority Buddhist nation, including custodians of the holiest shrine – the Temple of the Tooth – also appealed to President Mahinda Rakapaksa to release Fonseka.
“We cannot approve the arrest of Gen. Fonseka and other army personnel who were with him. They have risked their lives to eliminate terrorism and played a major role in creating peace,” they wrote in an open letter to the President.
The former army general and Rajapaksa worked together in ending a 25-year war against Tamil Tiger separatists last year, but fell out soon after. The government said Fonseka had conspired against the President and would face court martial.
(Based on internet reports)
