Three opposition MPs to give evidence in “white flag” case

Two parliamentarians of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and a parliamentarian from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) are among ten witnesses who will be giving evidence in the white flag case in which former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Sarath Fonseka is charged for causing disrepute to the Sri Lanka government by making allegedly false statements to The Sunday leader, an English weekly published in Colombo.

In the Sunday Leader interview, Sarath Fonseka had alleged that Sri Lanka’s Defense Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapakse, ordered Major General Shavendra Silva to shoot dead all LTTE cadres who surrender waving white flags in the final leg of the battle.

When the case was taken up for inquiry Wednesday in the Colombo High Court the Defense Counsel, Nalin Ladduwahetty, submitted names of ten witnesses who are billed to give evidence on behalf of the defense.

The list included UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya, UNP parliamentarians Mangala Samaraweera and JVP parliamentarian Anura Dissanayake.

The accused Sarath Fonseka has also agreed to give evidence.

The other witnesses are Prof Ashley Halpe, Registrar Colombo High Court, National Archives Director, Secretary Press Council and Sunday Leader Journalist Rakeena Wickrematunga.

The Court will take a decision whether to accept the list of witnesses submitted by the defence on March 30.

Meanwhile, two Tamil organizations have filed a request to prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague, Morena O Campo, to investigate current Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the UN, Dr Palitha Kohona for his complicity in the extra-judicial execution of the white-flag surrendees.

[Full Coverage]

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