The court martial would start after a few procedures were completed, the powerful younger brother of the president and defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said adding that the charges were 'serious'.
Former army chief Sarath Fonseka would be tried by court martial for treason and "can be put in jail for as long as five years," a top Sri Lankan official said today, though the government is yet to slap formal charges against him.
The court martial would start after a few procedures were completed, the powerful younger brother of the president and defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said adding that the charges were "serious" and the general can be jailed for five years."
For the first time Gotabaya accused the war hero of "ordering the murders of journalists", claiming that he may be tried in both military and civilian courts. Gotabaya also accused Fonseka of misusing his office and trying to split the army he led.
The defeated presidential candidate was taken into military custody on February 8 and his wife has moved the Supreme Court against his detention. The apex court is expected to take up the case for hearing tomorrow.
Gotabaya's remarks come as the government warned the detained ex-army chief against providing "evidence to certain international organisations" on alleged war crimes during the final battle with LTTE.
Media minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene said that the government took strong exception to his reported remarks that he would "reveal the truth" on the war-crimes, a threat which has apparently rattled the government hierarchy.
The minister said, "He has reportedly spoken regarding certain things that took place during the war. He also said he is going to provide evidence." Gotabaya also charged that Fonseka "stood in the way
of early rehabilitation of displaced Tamils and plotted to put the country under military rule."
"He started his political campaign when he was occupying the army commander's house," the Strait Times quoted him as saying. The biggest damage he did was to politicise the military forces," he added.
Gotabaya suggested Fonseka may be charged in civilian courts for offences including the January 2009 murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. He noted that the murder followed a pattern in which journalists who had criticised the general or those close to him disappeared.
"The truth will be out very soon," he told the paper. The defence secretary also alleged Gen Fonseka's campaign was backed by several Western nations.
"We are 100% convinced. Even the US and countries like Norway spent lots of money for his campaign. I have proof of the Norwegian government paying journalists to write against the government."
He said, that Fonseka was being held in a navy base in 'luxurious surroundings', adding that the former army chief had been given an apartment that was once used by the navy commander when he was a chief of staff.
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