Sri Lanka’s powerful Buddhist clergy has appealed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to release former army chief Sarath Fonseka from custody, saying it was “unacceptable” to arrest a “gallant officer”, who played a key role in defeating LTTE, due to “petty political differences”.
In a letter addressed to the president, the ‘Mahanayakes’ or the Buddhist religious leaders said the monks’ grouping ‘Maha Sangha’ has throughout its long history come forward to help resolve grave national issues, including conflicts among the rulers.
They said it is unacceptable to arrest a gallant officer “due to petty political differences.”
“The government has embraced individuals such as Karuna Amman (Eastern Province chief minister, who was once part of LTTE) and Pilleyan who mercilessly attacked civilians and military personnel.
And so it surely can overlook the alleged offences committed by a man who made enormous sacrifices to unite and safeguard the territorial integrity of the country,” they said in the letter.
© The Times of India
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