Verdict on former Sri Lanka Army Commander's appeal against second court martial on December 15

Sri Lanka Court of Appeal announced today that the verdict regarding the petition filed by former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka against the second court martial would be delivered on December 15.

Fonseka was sentenced to a 30-month rigorous imprisonment by this court martial.

The Attorney General has indicated to the courts that the President had approved the sentence and it cannot be contested in the courts.

Counsel representing the former commander has said that since he was tried under the Army Act the verdict could be contested.

Fonseka was accused of defrauding the government by handing over a tender for arms procurement to HiCorp, a military supply company owned by his son-in-law Danuna Tillakaratne.

He was found guilty by the court martial of four charges related to alleged irregularities in military procurements during his tenure as Army Chief.

Fonseka was stripped off the ranks and the pension by a verdict of the first court martial which found him guilty of participating in political activities while in active service.