Lankan authorities will decide judicial process for Gen. Fonseka

Minister of media Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said today (Feb. 24) that it was the Sri Lankan authorities who would decide whether detained Gen. Sarath Fonseka should be tried in a civil or a military court.

Responding to a statement by US assistant secretary Robert O' Blake, Mr. Abeywardena said Sri Lanka has the capability of handling the matter in accordance with the laws of the land.

The minister told the media in Colombo that the US official had no right to dictate terms to the island, when he said Washington was dissatisfied with the manner in which the issue has been handled up to now.

"So far I think it has been less than we might have hoped for, but we have certainly encouraged the government of Sri Lanka to ensure that he is charged promptly, as you said, and that everything is handled in accordance with Sri Lankan law as they move forward," he has told BBC.