Sri Lankan presidential candidate, Sarath Fonseka, speaks to NewsX in a World Exclusive

Media News

New Delhi, January 27, 2010

NewsX foreign correspondent, Royden D’Souza, reaches the besieged Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in Colombo for a WORLD EXCLUSIVE with the Sri Lankan presidential candidate, Sarath Fonseka.

The former Sri Lankan army chief turned presidential candidate, General Fonseka, is hiding in a hotel surrounded by the very army he was heading till late last year.

In an exclusive interview to NewsX in December, General Fonseka voiced his differences with President Rajapaksa. The interview which was covered extensively by the Sri Lankan press and the international media was start of the acrimonious presidential campaign in the island nation.

NewsX once again spoke to General from his hide out in Colombo. Following are the excerpts from the interview:

On President Rajapaksa’s plan to retain power, General Fonseka said, "…their (Sri Lankan government) plan is to deploy troops around my house, my office, the broadcasting corporation, the national television station and if he (President Rajapaksa) loses, the instruction he gave to army commanders and the security council, is to take me into custody…and he will not hand over the power."

Reacting to the troops surrounding his hotel, Sarath Fonseka said, "Yeah…they have already surrounded ... this is part of that operation … that’s why we left our house, residence and office and came here … all the opposition leaders … they are threatening my security peoples and they have tried to enter the hotel, we managed to push them back."

Commenting on the fear that he may be arrested, he said, "they wanted the army commander to arrest me and he told the air force commander to put air force people at their airport … takeover their airport … they have already sent the army to all broadcasting stations and television stations ... they have sent all the people on leave; they have only some people and the army … so these are indications of a military coup … once he loses election, he wants to remain in power."

Reacting strongly to the government’s allegation about his eligibility as a presidential candidate, Fonseka said, "I am not a registered voter but I am a citizen … all that you need to contest the election (for President) is be over 30 years and be a citizen … according to that (the Presidential act) I am qualified, I told you … 30 years age, Sri Lankan citizen."

Commenting on his fear of assassination, he said, "I am not afraid, but I know that is their plan we will fight back."

The general is hopeful of the army supporting him, "Army will not accept this … they will not appreciate this, morally they are supporting me at the moment, they are still trying to remain disciplined within the army, but if they get the legal orders, army will not react … but some unruly elements - they are people already outside - they will try to interfere, but not the total army."

Rubbishing foreign minister’s claim in a press conference that he is harbouring 600-800 deserters from the army, the former army chief said, "He is off his nut … how can I have 800 men? In which camp? I don’t have a camp … I have a house and office, so what has he told you."

Reacting to the question of a war hero who defeated LTTE and is now surrounded by his own men, the General expressed his disgust, "It’s disgusting, the President today is behaving in a disgraceful manner, violating the law and order in the country, violating the constitution, he is not fit to sit in the seat anymore … disgusting."

Tune into NewsX all day today for the full version of the interview. Also tune into a special half hour on Sri Lanka tonight at 9:30 PM.

For further details, please contact:

Vitcom Consulting

Mallika Sinha

Mobile: +91-9818551831

Email: mallika.sinha@vitcomconsulting.com