Religious leaders meet again over Fonseka

Published Date: February 16, 2010

Religious leaders meet again over Fonseka thumbnail

Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith talks with General Sarath Fonseka in Colombo (file photo)

COLOMBO (UCAN)– Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim religious leaders have expressed deep concern over the arrest of former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka.

The Congress of Religions met the chief prelates of Sri Lanka’s two main Buddhist chapters among four in Kandy to discuss the situation today [Feb. 16].

The country faces a fresh wave of post-election violence as anger grows over the arrest.

Thousands of protesters had clashed with a pro-government group last week.

Fonseka was credited with the defeat of the rebel Tamil Tigers after a decades-long civil war but was arrested last week on charges of plotting to overthrow the government.

The Congress of Religions have made a statement with 20 religious leaders yesterday [Feb. 15] after their meeting at Abayarama Temple in the capital last Friday.

“We are not happy with the manner of the arrest of General Fonseka who gave leadership in defeating the rebels and it disturbs all Sri Lankans,” said the religious leaders.

Many police and army officers who were close to General Fonseka face trouble, the leaders say.

Twenty religious leaders including Venerable Ittapana Dammalankara Thera, Venerable Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thero, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo and retired Archbishop Oswald Gomis signed the statement.

“They [the religious leaders] are very concerned about the uncertain situation in the country with regard to democracy and good governance,” one of the representatives told UCA News as the group left the temple.

The chief prelates of Sri Lanka’s four main Buddhist chapters have called a meeting on Thursday [Feb. 18] for a special convention to discuss the political situation in the country.

In a letter sent to all monks in the country, Anglican Bishop Duleep de Chickera has also expressed deep concern over Fonseka’s arrest.

“The world has also expressed concern over these happenings and their implications on the rights of individual citizens and the democratic integrity of our beloved Sri Lanka,” the bishop said.

“Whatever opinion people may have of General Fonseka, militarily or politically, all fair-minded Sri Lankans are disappointed with the way a highly-rated former Army Commander and his associates have been treated. It is a blot on the democratic, cultural and religious traditions and image of our country.”

SR08856.1589 February 16, 2010 39 EM-lines (366 words)

Bishops want code of conduct for politicians
Religious groups pray for peaceful election
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395 words

Tags: Army, Elections, Fonseka, President, Tamil

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dhathusena

This development is the only silver lining of the dark clouds.We hope you all together will save our ailing mother country.Don't giving to corrupt politicians .Whoever rule the country should do it according to the law and it should be equal to everybody.Whole nation is behind you honourable sir's.Pleas save this country from the cluthes of evil.

Believer in Living God

The Almighty God is the judge of the all nations. His judgement we can see in near future with regard to arrest of former Army commander General Sarath Fonseka. God does His rightousness and fairness.

At His Judgement the whole nation will start to tremble. Especially the rulers of the Sri Lankan Nation. Earth will shake.

Then you can see the Power of the Almighty God.

Ashok

what about Millenium city arrests of deep penetrating group and treating them like dogs?

Ashok

I think whether it is a general or a journalist they cannot bend the rules.It is a sad fact that he politicised the Army and was with ruthless killers like JVP.At the same time he was under the influence of bad elements and talked against his loyal army betraying Shavendra Silva and other commanders.He did it publicly more than once and he also knew that breaking military rules make him to face court martial.His rude words in election meetings with the vocabulary of words used in vengeance made people away from him.Overall he is not a disciplined soldier.

kksr003217

i read it as a citizen, and I condemn the arrest of Rtd. Gnrl Mr Sarath Fonseka.I hated Ltte, I hated the political leaders who could not find the forces to eliminate the enemy. ltte. I supported the so called pr. Mahinda for his past being, but 2 morow, will b the war with Mahinda and sri lankan citizens, who been marked as numbers and expect the worst, it is too late to stop- stamped to kill u.

rajen

what SF done during ellection. he prepared list for killing people. this is surprise because SF can do any thin without normal rules.

longus

Are the religious leaders going to take the responsibility if Fonseka is proven to be guilty of the charges he faces?It's better if they mind their own business.

nalaka

There is a word for people like Mahinda Rajapakse. And it is not president. It is Dictator. Mahinda did great things, but he is a corrupt, greedy power-abusing person. How is this democracy? When people don't even have the power to protest SILENTLY??

And how in the world did Fonseka "betray his forces" as some put it? The only reason he is in jail is because he dared to oppose Rajapakse. There is no other reason!

Rajapakse's regime is rooted in lies and thuggery. How many innocents have been killed again? Oh yeah...lost count. What goes around, comes around. People, don't be afraid.

Stand up for what is right, for justice. The day will come when Rajapakse gets what he deserves.

dilan7

thanks alot religious leaders..we all should get to gether as sri lankans to demand the Rajapakshe goverment to release our general Fonseka.

Ab

No need to concerned if you have correct information plus if you understand that nobody should play around with the rule of law. As religious leaders your duty is not to play around with political parties plus NGOs. Rather than shouting,making big issue out of this why don't you all wait until he proven guilty or not under the court of law. If you look at this issue like UNP OR JVP, sure you see as a political vendata, but as a Sri lankan I SEE SF IS A PERSON WHO TRYING to MESS AROUND WITH MY MOTHER LANKA. UNLIKE UNP OR JVP many SRI LANKAN FEEL SF was not joking when he said that " he is not going to safe any body who commited war crime & he will give evidence to international court." It is great threat to our national security everytime Sf open his mouth, can you all say that is not the case. Your job is protect our MOTHER LANKA NOT TO PROTECT PEOPLE LIKE SF.

wilfredgunasekera

At last the divine powers are intervening through their proxies to save Sri Lanka. Only the corrupt bribe takers like those who are offered ministerial posts,nominations as MP's and those allowed to contest elections under UPFA and the like will support this corrupt regime blindly.If we fail this time we must be ready to forget the paradise Sri Lanka and get ready to live like the Myanmarians or the Iranians.So let us begin the good fight now.

sudathrajakaruna

Sri Lanka is in a very critical stage of history. This is much bigger than LTTE or JVP. We see the green light of dictatorship. If we do not stop it now we all suffer for sure. So, do not give 2/3 majority to ruling party. Go against ruling party and vote for any other party. If you vote for ruling party your children and grand children will pay for it.

I pray that all Sri Lankan see what is coming. President Rajapaksa is not running the country. See an example:

"After Sirimalwatte was arrested by the CID on the 29th, he was ordered to be detained for 30 days by the Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse. The irony of ironies is that this Defense Ministry is under the control of the President. Besides, the Defense Secretary is President’s brother. Yet, President confesses to his abysmal ignorance on this subject."

elmojoseph

Why are you, religious leaders getting involved in politics at this stage? If the Supreme Court allows the case to go forward & the evidence presented, we can then decide to take sides. Wait.....

regremalinge

We all Srilankan to be ashamed to see these nature of incidents. Our image in worldwide will be deterioting with these kind of immoral and uncivilized manner to treat public figure. Where is the democracy what we are expecting from the rulers in the country? We all puzzling ourselves how any one could enguage on such a brutal act. We are ashmed ourselves in front of civilized nations in the Globe.

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