President calls Lankan snap polls as tensions mount over Fonseka arrest

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COLOMBO: Anoma Fonseka (C), the wife of former Sri Lankan army chief and presidential election candidate Sarath Fonseka, waving to supporters during a rally here Wednesday, held to protest her husband's arrest. — AFP Photo

COLOMBO, Feb 10 (AFP): Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has called snap parliamentary elections as political tensions mounted Wednesday over the arrest of his main rival Sarath Fonseka.
Rajapakse, who was returned to power last month after defeating former army chief Fonseka in a bitter election battle, dissolved parliament from midnight Tuesday, two months early.
A government statement said elections would be held on April 8.
The move came hours after the defence ministry said Fonseka, who was arrested by troops at his office in Colombo Monday night, will face a court martial on charges of conspiring against the government.
Opposition parties which had backed Fonseka's failed bid for the presidency demanded Wednesday the former army chief's immediate release, saying they feared for his life.
"We have good reason to believe that the extra-judicial arrest of General Fonseka may be followed up with assassination while in custody," they said in a joint statement.
Fonseka's wife, Anoma, and a lawyer were allowed to visit him in detention at the naval headquarters in Colombo, a family member said.
The government has yet to spell out specific charges against Fonseka, but defence ministry spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters that he had been colluding with opposition politicians last year while still head of the army.
Asked if Fonseka was accused of treason, Rambukwella said: "It could be one of the charges."
Fonseka and his former ally Rajapakse fell out after the army's crushing defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels in May, as both sought to take credit for ending the 37-year separatist insurgency.
Opposition lawmaker Karu Jayasuriya said the combined opposition was seeking the support of the influential Buddhist clergy in pressuring the government to free Fonseka and curb a crackdown on dissidents and rival politicians.
"We are speaking to all religious leaders and will have a series of religious events to seek the release of General Fonseka from custody and ensure more democratic freedoms," Jayasuriya said.
Sri Lanka's former peace facilitator, Norway, joined the United Nations, France and the United States in expressing concern over Fonseka's arrest, saying it risked impeding progress towards "lasting political stability."
France said it was "extremely worried," while UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was following the developments with concern and urged Sri Lanka to "provide all necessary protections (for Fonseka) and guarantees to his safety."
Earlier this month, Rajapakse sacked a dozen senior military officers in an unprecedented purge. The defence ministry said the officers were a threat to national security. Party workers from Fonseka's office were also arrested.