DailyMirror
The Congress of Religions which condemned the arrest of General (Rtd.) Sarath Fonseka said it could be considered as a cruel act committed at a time when the opposition was preparing to file a petition challenging the results of the recent presidential election and when the general election was declared.
A statement signed by Ven. Ittapane Dhammalankara Thera, Ven. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera, Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop Emeritus Oswald Gomis, Bishop of Colombo Dulip de Chickera, President, Methodist Church Rev. Ebanezer Joseph and Sheik Moulavi M. M. Zaheer said yesterday that religious leaders could not approve the way he was arrested.
“The people in this country are displeased with the method which the government adopted to deal with General Fonseka though there is no issue in taking action against him if he had committed any offence,” the religious leaders said.
While alleging that a large number of officers in the security forces and the police were facing a danger of losing their positions as they were charged with supporting General Fonseka at the presidential election, the religious leaders said they could not approve such an action.
The Congress of Religions which held a meeting had decided to adopt a resolution condemning the arrest of General Fonseka, the statement added.