The Second Court Martial Hearing Against General Fonseka Postponed

The second Court Martial Trial held against General Sarath Fonseka today was postponed without hearing the charges leveled against him due to the problem arisen on the Composition of the Tribunal Army sources said.

When the Court Martial hearing begin today at the Navy Headquarters in Colombo the President of the Court Major General H.L Weeratunge read a letter sent by the President Mahinda Rajapaksha on appointing Panel of Judges .Stating that there is a issue on whether the same Panel of Judges in the First Court can hear in the Second Court the Court proceedings was postponed without fixing a next date of hearing.

The Second Court Martial hearing commenced today on the charges leveled against the General Fonseka on violating the Army Rules and procedures on Arm Procurement.Because of the Postponement of the Court hearing the Lawyers representing General Fonseka were not get the opportunity to make their representations.

Police Used Tear Gas To Disperse Protest Campaign On General Fonseka

Police used tear gas this noon to disperse a protest campaign held in Panadura Area in the Colombo Suburbs organized by the Democratic National Alliance(DNA) to oppose producing General Fonseka before the Court Martial.Around three hundred people participated the protest and ten were arrested when they tried to block the main road according to the sources.

General Fonseka Appeared Court Martial Trial

Retired General Sarath Fonseka today appeared before the Court Martial with his lawyers to face three charges leveled against him on involved in Political activities during his Army career.General Fonseka who appeared before the Court with his lawyers headed by President Counsel Rienzi Arsakularatna is due to appear the Second Court Martial on alleged Military Procurements by tomorrow strong>

The Next Court Martial Trial on the charges discussed today against General Fonseka is scheduled to be held in 06th of April.

2.5 Million Worth Expired And Low Quality Drugs At SPC Stores

A large stock of Expired and Low Quality Drugs worth Around Rs.2.5 million are stored at the Storing Complex of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation in Rathmalana of the Colombo Suburbs at present according to the Health Sources.Majority of these Drugs are non essential items and those Drugs which were out of date Expired in December 2009 according to the Sources.

These Drug Items were imported for the use of Government Hospitals and State owned Pharmacies.The storage of these Items also blocked the storage space in the Storing Complex according to the sources.

Meanwhile more then 4 million non essential Hypodermic Injection Needles are also stored in the Stores pending approval of the Medical Supplies Division(MSD) Health Ministry Sources said.

DNA Party Appealed The Public To Stage Protests Against Court Martial General Fonseka

The Newly Formed Democratic National Alliance(DNA) led by former Army Commander and Common Presidential Candidate of the Opposition Retired General Sarath Fonseka who is under Military Detention at present, today appealed from the Public to stage Protest Campaigns Island wide on this Tuesday(16) against the Court Martial Trial scheduled to be held on that day against the General.

The DNA Party which is going to contest for the forthcoming General Elections under the Trophy Symbol also appealed the people to conduct Religious Observances including Bodhi Poojas on behalf of General Fonseka.

Addressing a Press Briefing held in Colombo today The DNA Spokesman Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said that the Officials failed to find any evidence on Major Charges filed against General Fonseka earlier on Involved in Conspiracy to assassinate the President and the Controversial Mig Air Craft Deal.Now He is accused on Seven Other Charges and tried to produced before a Court Martial Trial He stated.

Money Allocated For Purchasing Essential Drugs Goes Wrong Way

The Money allocated for purchasing Essential Drug Items required for Government Hospitals are decreasing rapidly due to the Purchasing of non Essential Drugs and Surgical Items in large scale according to the Health Ministry Sources.The Government has allocated around Rs.14 Billion for the Purchasing of Drug Items required by the Government Hospital for this year and Most of this money already have spent to Import these non economical Drug Items the Sources added.

Meanwhile Due to the Importing these Non Essential Drug Items The Storage Space of the Medical Supplies Division too blocked till August 2012 according to the Sources.The Non Essential Items like rarely used Hypordermic Imjection Needles are stored at the Supplies Division at large preventing storing Essential Drug and Surgical Items like Surgical Gloves and Disposable Syringes which are out of stock within the Government Hospitals at present.

General Fonseka's Lawyers To Challenge His Court Martial Trial

The Lawyers of Detained Former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka are due to appear before the Court Martial on next Tuesday(16) to challenge the Legality of trying Former Army Commander before a Three Member Penal compromising Army Officers ranked Junior to him Leftist Janatha Wimukthi Peramuna(JVP) said today.

General Fonseka is due to appear before the Court Martial on next Tuesday (16th)and Wednesday(17th).

JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said that there is no provision in the Army Act to Court Martial General Fonseka and such a trial is Illegal.JVP has already filed a case in the Court Of Appeal challenging this decision.

Meanwhile Director General of the Media Center of National Security Lakshman Hulugalle said that there is no valid reason for General Fonseka's Lawyers to Opposed the Court Martial Trial conduct against him and Even General opposed he will be produced before the Court.