Sri Lanka's former Army chief Sarath Fonseka has been moved to a prison where he is expected to serve his 30-year sentence that was ratified by the President, even as the Opposition termed his incarceration as a “degrading form of revenge”.
The 30-month sentence by a court martial on charges of corruption in defence deals was ratified by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and subsequently Fonseka was transferred to the prison from his detention centre at the naval headquarters.
Prisons commissioner Major General V.R. De Silva said that the former Army commander was brought to the Welikada prison at 10.30 pm on Thursday night under an escort provided by the military police, the private channel MTV reported.
Fonseka's wife Anoma said her family was not discouraged by this act of “revenge” as it was noble to stand up and die rather than genuflect. Opposition DNA lawmaker Vijitha Herath termed the sentence for the former Army chief as a “degrading form of revenge”.
"Neither I nor my daughters are discouraged by this. It is more noble to stand up and die rather that having to live on bended knees," Anoma said.
She said her husband had tirelessly worked to eradicate 30 years of terrorism from the country, and he had been gifted with a rigorous imprisonment of 30 months.
"I think the entire world knows that this was merely revenge. Therefore I wish to invite the loving people. We won't stop this journey here. Even if the General is imprisoned, we will stand up for him," she said.
"It is more noble to stand up and die rather than having to live on bended knees. The people now have a chance to do something on his behalf. So I request that this be fulfilled," the channel quoted Anoma Fonseka as saying.
Fonseka was arrested two weeks after his defeat in the January 26 presidential elections and has since remained in military custody at the Naval headquarters.
He was first stripped off his rank and medals by the first court martial which found him guilty of dabbling in politics while in uniform, before the second court martial convicted him of corruption.
A group of people, including his wife and others, also arrived at the Welikada prison to see him. De Silva said there were no special cells at the prison, said the war hero will be taken in as a “normal inmate”.
“From this point on, he becomes a prisoner. After we receive a copy of the President’s endorsement of the court martial from the Army headquarters or defence officials, he will be accepted as a normal inmate. There are no special cells within the prison," De Silva was quoted as saying.
De Silva, however, added if the court asks for providing special security to him, he will be placed in a separate cell. "But the usual security will be provided," he added. Addressing a gathering, opposition MP Vijitha Herath exhorted Sri Lankans “to stand against this injustice”.
“Behind this is a degrading form of revenge,” he said, while promising that all possible legal action would be taken against the decision.
“We hope to challenge it. We request all Sri Lankans here and abroad to stand against this injustice. In your hearts and conscience, Sarath Fonseka has done no wrong.
Therefore, we request you to come forward to do whatever you can do to justice on behalf of Sarath Fonseka, who provided leadership for the war," said Herath.