Colombo, May 04: Sri Lanka’s detained ex-army chief and opposition MP Sarath Fonseka today skipped proceedings of a court martial trying him on charges of indulging in illegal defence deals as he chose to attend the Parliament session, prompting the military court to seek an explanation from him.
Fonseka, 59, did not appear before the court martial panel as he was in Parliament which was debating the emergency regulations.
The military court asked Fonseka to explain his absence and why he did not seek its permission for attending the ongoing session of Parliament. The hearing was subsequently postponed for tomorrow.
According to the counsel for Fonseka, the permission was being sought for the purpose through a letter to Army Chief Jagath Jayasuriya, who said this matter should be referred to the court martial.
–Agencies