Colombo, Jan 28 (DPA) The security measures provided for Sri Lanka’s defeated presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka have been withdrawn, a military spokesman said Thursday.
Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said two days after the presidential election that four vehicles, including a bullet-resistant car, and 20 army personnel had been withdrawn from Fonseka’s security assignment.
The spokesman declined to comment on any other security arrangements the general may be entitled to as the army’s former chief.
The move came as one of the main opposition parties that backed Fonseka claimed the airport has been told to prevent Fonseka from leaving Sri Lanka.
“We have information that the airport has been informed not to allow Fonseka to leave the country,” opposition party leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said.
The government has denied that it was limiting Fonseka’s movements, saying it was an attempt to tarnish the image of the country.
“We do not have the need to block the movements of Fonseka,” Minister of International Trade G.L. Peiris said.
Fonseka lost Tuesday’s poll to incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was officially declared the winner Wednesday with 57.88 percent of the votes.
The opposition candidate claimed the results were “manipulated” and said he would challenge them in the courts.
He alleged that the president had misused the state media and abused other state property by using officials, vehicles and government buildings for his campaign.
As preliminary results were announced, troops surrounded a Colombo hotel where Fonseka was staying, but the government denied it was trying to arrest the candidate. Later Wednesday, a Fonseka spokesman confirmed that the siege had ended and the general had been able to leave the hotel.
But a day later, the opposition protested the removal of Fonseka’s security detail.
“It is well-known that General Fonseka has security threats,” said Vijitha Herath, an opposition MP.
The former general led the military campaign against Tamil separatist rebels, which the government won in May last year, and the removal of his security could pose a danger to his life, Herath said.
Fonseka said Wednesday that his life was under threat and there were moves to arrest him.
Meanwhile, supporters of Rajapaksa continued their celebrations after the president’s re-election for another six-year term.
A hand grenade was lobbed at the residence of a mayor who campaigned for Fonseka in the eastern district of Batticaloa.
But no other serious incidents of violence were reported overnight or Thursday, and Sri Lankans started returning to work after a public holiday Wednesday.
In another development, the government began preparing to conduct parliamentary elections.
“Parliament will be dissolved, and elections will be held shortly,” said Maithripala Siirisena, a senior cabinet minister.
The parliamentary term officially ends in April but Rajapaksa is likely to dissolve parliament ahead of schedule and go for elections in a bid to capitalise on his victory in Tuesday’s election.
