REFUGEE

General Sarath Fonseka told the media on Sunday (29) at the Hilton Residencies that the soldiers did not sacrifice their lives to rid the country of terrorism to make kings out of one family and he would therefore contest the forthcoming Presidential election as the common candidate in order to save the country and people from the crises they are currently faced with.

Addressing a media briefing attended by over 200 journalists, the General clarified his stance and expressed his firm commitment to abolish the Executive Presidency six months after assuming office. He said that diplomatic ties with

India would be further strengthened by him and that the ethnic issue could be resolved through a solution that goes beyond the 13th Amendment.

The General condemned the mud slinging campaign launched by the government saying no one could point a finger at him for being involved in any kind of rackets in military procurements during his 40 year military service. He said the story carried by certain media of the involvement of his son-in-law in some military procurement was baseless and that all military equipment and ammunition was purchased by Lanka Logistics, which is headed by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Speaking of the assassination of The Sunday Leader Editor in Chief Lasantha Wickrematunge and the attacks on media personnel, the General said that although the government tried to implicate him in these incidents, the people were well aware of whom well known drug dealers, thugs and other notorious characters are affiliated to.

General Fonseka said he plans to conduct independent investigations into the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge and attacks on the media and take action against the wrong doers as soon as he is elected to office.