Buddhist clergy intervenes, wants Fonseka freed

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.

The Buddhist clergy asked President Rajapaksa to "retract the (conspiracy) charges levelled against Gen Sarath Fonseka and release him from custody and also provide him with adequate security."

"The government has embraced individuals such as Karuna Amman (Eastern Province Chief Minister who was once part of LTTE) and Pilleyan who once massacred Bhikkus at Aranthalawa, carried out a bomb attack on the Temple of the Tooth and 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," the letter said.

Fonseka, who led the country's army in crushing the LTTE in May last year, played "a major role" in eradicating terrorism and it is not acceptable for the government to arrest and "slander the General and other military officials based on the friction created by statements made on the political stage," the letter said.

"Lord Buddha taught that 'hatred will not end hatred'. So please forget the differences with former Army Commander Gen Fonseka," it said.

The Buddhist clergy has always come forward to settle disputes between various people of the country regardless of their status and this tradition has prompted it to seek the release of Fonseka, it said.

Earlier this week, the 'Mahanayakes' convened a meeting of Buddhist monks and decided that on February 18, their 'Maha Sangha' would pass a resolution pertaining to the present political developments in the country.