Opposition to submit petition calling for Fonseka’s release to UN Chief

The Working Committee of Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party has decided to submit a petition calling for the release of jailed former Army commander Sarath Fonseka to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon.

Addressing a media briefing following the Working Committee meeting Wednesday, the General Secretary of UNP, Tissa Attanayake said the Working Committee has approved the launching of a public petition campaign to get one million signatures from members of all political parties and organisations and the general public.

The official launching of the petition will take place at the Colombo Municipal Council Mayor’s official residence on Friday (10) at 10a.m. Plans have been afoot to take the petition campaign across the island at district, provincial and electorate levels to obtain the one million signatures, the General Secretary said.

A group led by the deputy secretary of the party Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena is coordinating the public petition campaign that will urge the UN to intervene to protect Fonseka’s human rights, Attanayake said at the press briefing.

Meanwhile, the Working Committee has also decided to take disciplinary action against the UNP parliamentarian, Mohan Lal Grero who supporting the government’s budget crossed-over to the government last month. The Working Committee has already suspended Grero from the party.

Speaking of the Matara District UNP parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana, Attanayake said the Working Committee has decided to allow the disciplinary committee, which has already taken some measures against the MP, to reach any agreements, if possible, between the parties without violating the party constitution.



(Colombo Page)