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Fonseka detained

COLOMBO: The former Army Chief of Sri Lanka, General Sarath Fonseka, was detained for military offences late on Monday night from the ‘safe house’ he has been living in since he lost the January 26 presidential election to the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa by a huge margin.

Three days after the electoral outcome, the government accused the commander-turned politician of plotting a coup to overthrow the President and assassinate his family members.

In what is regarded as one of the biggest purges in the post-independent history of the island nation, the President in recent days has ordered a major purge, involving reshuffle of the military brass.

A section of the media has quoted an unnamed military official as saying that it was the Army’s biggest ever purge.

It is immediately not clear if he has been arrested or picked up for questioning.

A few of his aides present at the safe house told this correspondent that around 10 p.m. men identifying themselves as officials of various investigating agencies had come there and driven him out.

“We have no idea where he has been taken and on what charges.”

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