Fresh amendments may pave way for military rule in Sri Lanka: Ex Army Chief

Press Trust of India | Daily News and Analysis
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Sri Lanka's detained former army chief Gen Sarath Fonseka today described as "last nail in the coffin of democracy" the constitutional reforms enabling President Mahinda Rajapaksa to seek a third term and cautioned that this could pave way for a military rule in the country.

Fonseka, the 'war hero' who led the country's forces to victory against the Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009, said the Democratic National Alliance led by him will continue its struggle against the amendments.

The government was opening "the door for a military coup in the country by introducing the 18th Amendment to the constitution", Fonseka, now a Parliamentarian, was quoted as saying by the 'Daily Mirror'.

The bill that will enable the president to seek a third term in office is likely to be passed by Parliament late tonight, where the ruling coalition has a two-thirds majority.

Whenever the bill is passed, that will be a "dark day for democracy".

"This legislation is the last nail in the coffin of democracy," he said referring to the amendments.

The former army chief also expressed disappointment over the opposition United National Party (UNP) boycotting the debate on the 18th Amendment to the constitution.

He said it was regrettable that the main opposition party is not clear in its position on the 18th constitutional amendment.

"There are several opposition MPs who have crossed over due to personal gains," he alleged.

Fonseka claimed he was approached by intermediaries of the president who have urged him to seek pardon from him, but
he refused to do so.

During a Parliament debate yesterday, Fonseka said that 200 kilograms of gold had been unearthed from the Vellamullivaikkal area in the Mullaitivu district during his tenure as army chief in the final phase of the war.

During the debate for extension of the emergency laws for another month, he said detained LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP had access to lot of LTTE's money.

© DNA