Deutsche Presse Argentur | Monsters & Critics
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General Sarath Fonseka's lawyer sought the delay in order to study the report on the government's final military offensive against Tamil rebels two years ago.
'In view of the local and international ramifications the evidence may have, we have sought further time to give evidence. Accordingly the case was put off for May 4,' Nalin Ladduwahetti said.
Fonseka, who spearheaded the military campaign that defeated the rebels, is currently serving a 30-month jail term for following irregular purchasing procedures while serving as the Army commander.
He is currently on trial for comments made to a local newspaper in 2009 alleging that Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had ordered the military not to spare any of the Tamil rebels even if they were surrendering.
Fonseka is charged with making false statements and arousing public anger at the government. Rajapaksa is the president's brother.
The report commissioned by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was handed over to the Sri Lankan government on April 12. Colombo was due to respond to the allegations on Thursday.
Parts of the report that have appeared in the media said the UN panel found credible allegations of a wide range of serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law by both the government forces and Tamil rebels.
The government has denied committing any war crimes during the conflict that ended with the defeat of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May 2009.
The UN estimated that some 7,500 civilians died during the final phase of the conflict in the northern part of the country.
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