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When the controversial "white flag" case was heard at the Colombo High Court Monday, the Sunday Leader Editor, Ms. Frederica Jansz stood by her version of the interview with the former Army Commander.
During the interview with her, Ms. Jansz told the Courts that Fonseka informed her that the Defence Secretary directed Brig. Shavendra Silva by phone to kill the Tiger leaders without permitting them to surrender.
Justice Deepali Wijesundera presided the three-judge trial-at-bar with Colombo High Court judges WTMPB Warawewa and MZ Razeen.
The witness said that she conducted the interview on December 08th 2009 at the former Army Commander's elections office at Reid Avenue.
The Editor said she intended to question Fonseka about his life and the ongoing election campaign but her last question was about the white flag issue.
Ms. Jansz told the court that Fonseka in his interview said that the senior LTTE leaders through third party countries have informed Basil Rajapaksa of their willingness to surrender and Basil Rajapaksa has conveyed the message to the Defence Secretary.
The witness informed the court that when inquired, Basil Rajapaksa vehemently denied Fonseka's claim.
She said that when inquiries were made from Fonseka on his controversial statement prior to publication, the former commander confirmed that no changes should be made to the statement.
The controversial 'white flag' story involves comments made by General Fonseka during the last Presidential election where he had told the English weekly that on the orders of Defence Secretary, security forces shot and killed senior LTTE members when they had tried to surrender carrying white flags during the final stages of the war last year.
Sri Lankan government recently claimed that the former Army chief's comment was the reason for the UN Secretary-General's decision to appoint a panel of experts on Sri Lanka to probe war crime charges.
The case will be taken up again on Wednesday October 6 at 1:30 p.m.
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