New Delhi
28 January 2010
"Yes, he was planning (to assassinate the President.) It is not a secret," Mr Rajapaksa said, and pointed an accusing finger at "Western governments" for colluding with the retired general to oust President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Some foreign governments had funded the opposition political parties, he said without elaborating.
"There was no reason for [Gen Fonseka] to round up commandoes and deserters. This is
not politics," he said, and recalled how Gen Fonseka had drawn up a "list" of top leaders
and government officials and put together a team of army deserters and retired
commandoes "to create panic".
The defence secretary's remarks came soon after the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry
claimed in Colombo that there was "ample evidence" to prove that Gen Fonseka hatched
the conspiracy from two hotels in Colombo.
In a separate telephone interview to this newspaper from Colombo, Sri Lankan Foreign
Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that there would be a "greater focus" on national
reconciliation and healing process in President Mahinda Rajapaksa's second term in
office.
Mr Bogollagama noted that the renewed mandate meant President Rajapaksa's
Government could carry forward his "vision" of a politically united and economically
stronger Sri Lanka. He also said that with the re-election of President Rajapaksa, the
government would be able to approach bilateral and multilateral relationships from "a
position of strength".
The Sri Lankan Government rejected the allegation that it had ulterior motives in
deploying soldiers around the hotel Gen Fonseka was staying in.
The government "did nothing", Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa asserted, and dismissed Gen
Fonseka's charge that the Sri Lankan Army attempted to eliminate him.
"[They] created an imaginary situation and sent out bogus SMSes [in the hope of
garnering] sympathy of people," he said in the government's defence.
Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that the Sri Lankan Government planned to initiate an
inquiry, besides contemplating "civil and military action", against Gen Fonseka for
compromising national secrets.
"He [disclosed] certain secrets that were discussed in the National Security Council and
used it from a political platform ... which was wrong, illegal and unethical .... He can be
charged under military law," Mr Rajapaksa said.
He evaded a direct reply when asked whether the government intended to "arrest" the
retired general. Due legal process would be followed, was all he would venture to say.
Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that Sri Lanka, under President Mahinda Rajapaksa,
would continue to develop relations with India.
"India is very important ... we have cordial relations. The President has got the
confidence of the Indian leaders," he said, adding that India extended valuable
assistance for the development of the northern and eastern provinces.
Both Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Mr Bogollagama maintained that development and
national reconciliation would be the priorities for the government.
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