COLOMBO , MAR 11 -

The court martial of defeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka will begin next week on charges of engaging in politics while army chief and procurement malpractices, officials said on Thursday.

Fonseka was arrested by the military on Feb 8, prompting opposition street protests in the Indian ocean island nation.

"There are seven charges against him in two courts martial, one on participating in politics while in active service and the other is on contravening military procedures on procurement," military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe told reporters.

Samarasinghe said the first court martial would begin on March 16 and the second on 17 March. He could not give a timeframe for the proceedings, which he said would be closed to the public and media.

Fonseka and President Mahinda Rajapaksa worked together in ending a 25-year war against Tamil Tiger separatists last year, but fell out soon after.

Fonseka lost by an 18 percentage point margin to Rajapaksa in the January poll, after which he accused the president of rigging the vote.

Protests after the arrest of Fonseka dragged down the island nation's share market but stocks have since recovered, event though foreign investors have been net sellers.

Street protests, strikes and labour unrest could have a ripple impact on Sri Lanka's $40 billion economy, which is forecast to grow more than 6 percent this year.

Sri Lanka is to hold legislative elections on April 8.

Posted on: 2010-03-11 09:04

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