Former Sri Lankan Chief Justice Sarath Silva has flayed as "illegal" the detention of ex-Army Chief Sarath Fonseka, prompting the government to express "dismay" over his comments.
Silva, who served in the top judicial post for almost a decade till last June and was associated with reforms such as computerisation of the district court of Colombo, said a suspect or person taken into custody should be produced before a court within 24 hours.
He said the detention of Fonseka for over three weeks from February 8 is "illegal" according to the Sri Lankan Constitution. Fonseka, who played a key role in defeating the rebel LTTE and later unsuccessfully challenged Mahinda Rajapaksa in the recent presidential elections after falling out with him, was arrested on treason charges.
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