SC admits petition challenging Fonseka's arrest

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Friday admitted a petition challenging the arrest of defeated Presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka and said it will hear the case on February 23.

The court admitted a fundamental rights petition filed by Anoma Fonseka, wife of the former army chief, which seeks the right to freedom from torture, arbitrary arrest and detention.

In her petition, Anoma had asked the court to rule her husband's arrest as illegal and order the government to allow the family of Fonseka to visit him. Meanwhile, the attorney general gave an undertaking saying General Fonseka will not be transferred from the place where he is being detained at the moment, the Daily Mirror online reported. Local media reports said the court will consider granting interim relief in the case on February 23.

The petitioner has sought the release of Fonseka, until the final determination of the fundamental rights application, as well as direct the attorney general to immediately summon the relevant officers concerned.

Fonseka was arrested on Monday from his office in Colombo by the army for allegedly planning a coup against the government while in service.

Today's order came as opposition parties protested against Fonseka's arrest and demanded his immediate release. At least five people were injured when a protest campaign was stoned in Anuradhapura in North Central Sri Lanka on Friday, a JVP spokesman said.