Foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the government has informed the world community about the circumstances of Fonseka's arrest and that he was detained under military laws.
Contending that even the president not above law, Sri Lankan government has refuted charges that the arrest of defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka was politically-motivated.
Foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the government has informed the world community about the circumstances of Fonseka's arrest and that he was detained under military laws.
Bogollagama said some sceptics have chosen to perceive the case as an example of political victimisation, but they were actually unaware of the true circumstances.
Fonseka, the former army chief, who presided over the military's victory over the Tamil Tigers, was arrested after the presidential polls and faces charges of plotting to topple the government and assassinating President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Bogollagama said the facts do not warrant the assumption that it was a case of political vendetta and that there was no room for manipulating the law for such petty gains.
"No leader can break the law of the country. Even the president can't do that. These laws are commonly applicable to all citizens," he told reporters in Central Kandy yesterday.
The foreign minister said a Fundamental Rights Case on behalf of Fonseka is before the Supreme Court.
"That means the law of the country is taking its proper course. If one says that the law of the country is being violated, that is causing disrespect to the country," he said.
Bogollagama said the government could have, if it so wished, opted to deny Fonseka the opportunity of contesting the polls by either refusing to accept his request to retire or by keeping the decision pending.
Fonseka was, however, allowed to retire to contest against Rajapaksa in the January 26 polls, he said.
Meanwhile, the state owned Daily News quoted Bogollagama as saying that he had informed, in writing, all international leaders and Heads of State that the arrest of Fonseka under military law had nothing to do with politics in the country.
He said this during a meeting with the powerful Buddhist monks to clarify the reasons behind the detention of Fonseka following their call for releasing the "gallant officer".
"Minister Bogollagama said even in Sri Lanka, we have a legal system which is universally practised. This is not confined to Sri Lanka," the Daily News said.
"I informed about this to the world leaders. Our legal system is also based on English Law," he said.
Even the military laws which seek to apply on alleged lapses of Fonseka during his service period in the Army are also part of this, he said.
"Anyone who violates the military laws should be equally dealt with. This law is implemented in equal manner in this country," the Minister said.
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