Refuting reports that a former Sri Lanka Army Intelligence Unit head is to be quizzed regarding the killing of Lasantha Wickrematunga, Director General of the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) urged the media to desist making such reports.

MCNS Director General Lakshman Hulugalle, during a media briefing this morning (March 6) said that 17 Army officers and other ranks have been questioned regarding the matter and 11 have been already released, while six have been detained for further questioning.

He also added that evidence against former Army chief and Chief of Defence Staff General (retired) Sarath Fonseka has been almost completed and that the report would be handed over to the Army Commander by next week. Meanwhile, evidence regarding the financial transactions and irregularities allegations against Gen. Fonseka will be handed over to be taken up in the civil courts, Mr. Hulugalle said.

At the same media briefing, Army spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe said that the Sri Lanka Army regrets its Intelligence Unit has been dragged into this matter in such a way. These allegations are not against the Army Intelligence Unit but against certain persons who had served it, he added.

Answering a question by a journalist whether the court martial against gen. Sarath Fonseka will be open to the media and the public, the Army spokesman said that there is no record anywhere of a court martial being open to the public. “It is an internal procedure of the particular force and it has not been open to the public,” he said.

However, Maj. Gen. Samarasinghe said that if a request is made by Gen. Fonseka for such a procedure, the Army Commander could consider it.