Saudi Arabia opens Hajj 1446 registration for domestic pilgrims Priority given to those who have not performed Hajj before, with registration available via Nusuk app and e-portal    Ivan Toney's brace secures Al Ahli victory over Al Fateh in Saudi Pro League    Al Nassr reclaims third place with 3-0 victory over Al Fayha as Jhon Durán shines    Saudi volunteer initiative performs 49 life-changing surgeries in Damascus    Oscar-nominated West Bank feature director says films 'can be part of change'    Sweden's worst mass shooting leaves immigrant community on edge    Saudi Air Force Commander oversees conclusion of Ramah Al-Nasr 2025 exercise, inaugurates expansion of Air Warfare Center    Saudi Arabia declares February 22 as official holiday for private and non-profit sectors to mark Founding Day    Karim Benzema's last-gasp winner sends Al Ittihad to the top of Roshn Saudi League French striker seals dramatic 2-1 victory over Al Taawoun with stoppage-time strike    British conman jailed for six years for running over French policemen    Panama says US 'spreading lies' over free canal passage    Salvador Dalí art comes to India for the first time    Expat remittances jump 14% in 2024, the highest in 2 years The increase attributed to improved salaries and expansion of projects    Saudi Arabia's population crosses 35 million, with non-Saudis constituting 44.4%    Crown Prince announces King Salman Automotive Cluster at KAEC    Heading into a new journey, JAECOO J8 is shaking up the luxury off-road market    GEA hosts mass wedding of 300 couples at "Night of a Lifetime" celebration during Riyadh Season 300 cars and housing as gifts for the newlyweds    Food Culture Festival kicks off in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter    Saudi Arabia to present 'The Um Slaim School: An Architecture of Connection' at Biennale Architettura 2025 Syn Architects explore Riyadh's architectural heritage, fostering new pedagogical approaches and global dialogue    Billionaire philanthropist Aga Khan dies    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Sri Lanka's ex-army chief gets bail
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 19 - 05 - 2012

A court granted bail for Sri Lanka's ex-army chief Friday, a move seen as a step toward a full pardon for the man credited with ending the country's long civil war but who later was jailed after challenging the president in elections.
Sri Lanka's High Court set Sarath Fonseka's bail at $8,000 in a case where he is accused of harboring army deserters. His lawyer, Saliya Peiris, said that Fonseka was also asked surrender his passport.
The court's decision comes ahead of a meeting between Sri Lanka's foreign minister and US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday in which human rights issues in the island nation are expected to be discussed.
The US has called Fonseka a political prisoner.
However, Fonseka will not be freed immediately because he is serving a 30-month jail term after a court martial found him guilty of planning his political career while still in the military and of committing fraud in purchasing military equipment.
Separately, in November 2011, he was sentenced to an additional three-year prison term for implicating the defense secretary and president's brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in war crimes during Sri Lanka's civil war. He has appealed the conviction.
Fonseka has said the cases are a political vendetta launched to persecute him for daring to run against incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the 2010 election.
The government has denied any political motive for the legal action.
Government spokesmen over the past days have been hinting that Fonseka will be given a full pardon. President Rajapaksa has also got approval from his Cabinet for Fonseka's release, a government website reported Friday.
Fonseka was hailed as a war hero in 2009 after he led Sri Lanka's army to victory in its 26-year civil war with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, and both he and Rajapaksa were immensely popular among the Sinhalese majority for defeating a rebel group that had seemed invincible for decades.


Clic here to read the story from its source.