Jailed former Sri Lankan army chief to seek release

Colombo, Apr 25 (Xinhua-ANI): Former Sri Lankan Army Commander Sarath Fonseka is to seek his release from prison next week, his wife said on Wednesday.

Anoma Fonseka said that lawyers hope to seek bail for her husband when the court case over the alleged killing of unarmed Tamil Tiger cadres, popularly known in Sri Lanka as the 'white flag' case is taken up for hearing on 2nd May.

"We hope to file a bail application next week. Once that is done we will have to see what will happen. There is no guarantee he will be released but let's see," Anoma Fonseka told Xinhua.

Meanwhile separately an official of Fonseka's political party is having talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa seeking the release of Sarath Fonseka.

Asked about the progress of those discussions Anoma Fonseka said she was not in a position to comment on that.

Sarath Fonseka led the army during the successful final stages of the war against the Tamil Tiger rebels, which eventually ended with the defeat of the rebels after 30 years of war.

However Fonseka fell out with the government after he decided to contest against Rajapaksa in the 2010 presidential election.

Fonseka lost the election and was later arrested over several alleged illegal weapons deals and he was then stripped of his ranks and other military accolades.

In the 'white flag' case Fonseka was charged with making false claims to a local newspaper that the army had shot dead senior rebel leaders who had surrendered with white flags in their hands.

Fonseka's family has already petitioned the U.S. government to secure his release. (Xinhua-ANI)