In separate meetings with Australian special envoy to Sri Lanka John McCarthy and Ambassador of Sudan Khidir Haroun Ahmed, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama conveyed the concern. Though he did not name any country, his remarks assume significance against the backdrop of a February 10 interview Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave to the Singapore-based Straits Times where he had talked about the alleged coup plans of the former Army Chief, retired General Sarath Fonseka. More...Discuss this story Published: Sat Feb 20 22:42:45 EST 2010

Over 11,000 former cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are now sheltered in 18 state-run rehabilitation centers. The majority of them surrendered to the military during the last stages of the battle in May last year and the rest were arrested.

The newly appointed commissioner general of rehabilitation, Brigadier Sudantha Ranasinghe, told reporters that the proposal to establish community villages is in the process of administrative cleareance before being sent for final approval. More...Discuss this story Published: Sat Feb 20 22:15:54 EST 2010

Fonseka, whose detention came two weeks after being beaten in presidential elections in late January by President Mahinda Rajapakse, is being held by the military pending court-martial proceedings on unspecified charges.

Rajapakse reiterated allegations in an interview with India's The Hindu newspaper that Fonseka had been working to divide the army and "engaging himself in activities prosecutable under military law." More...Discuss this story Published: Sat Feb 20 22:17:02 EST 2010