Release of Sri Lanka's former Army Commander form jail is more controversial than sending him to jail

Source: Albert Bigelow Paine, Thomas Nast: His Period and His Pictures, 1904 

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa's media spokesman Bandula Jayasekara says that the cabinet has granted approval to release Sarath Fonseka.

The proposal in this regard has been moved by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the spokesman says.

However, the cabinet spokesman Acting Minister of Communication and Media Lakshaman Yapa Anewardhana today denied discussing anything regarding release of Sarath Fonseka at the cabinet meeting held yesterday evening.

Media were speculating on the possible release of Fonseka in near future.

Democratic National Alliance (NDA) MP Tiran Alles yesterday held talks with the President regarding the release of the NDA leader Sarath Fonseka.

This shows that the imprisonment of Sarath Fonseka was entirely an act of the government for which the system of justice was manipulated. Yet, we do not know if Fonseka was jailed through a decision of the cabinet.

If Sri Lanka's judiciary is independent and if Fonseka's case is entirely legal, why should the cabinet decide to release Fonseka?

The release of Fonseka will raise more issues than the imprisonment of him. It will be a public lifting of the back curtain to show the anal where the rule of law intercourses with the political authorities.

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