Sri Lanka's former Chief Justice signs petition calling for Fonseka's release

Sri Lanka's former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva today (25) signed a public petition calling for the release of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka from prison.

Addressing the gathering at the event held at the J.R. Jayewardene Center to sign the public petition calling for Fonseka's release, Silva said the former Army Commander is deprived of the basic rights enjoyed even by criminals.
He said the 13th Clause of the Constitution has safeguarded the personal rights of each individual and that according to the said clause, a person could only be arrested under the existing criminal laws. He added that the law also stated on how to deal with a person after arrest.

According to Silva, Fonseka has been deprived of his rights.

The petition calling for Fonseka's release was launched by the Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and is to be handed over to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa after the public has signed it.