General Sarath Fonseka must appear before the court martial next week and face the proceedings without disputing that junior officers appointed in the panel was an illegal move, the Defence Ministry said today.Director General of the Media Center for National Security (MCNS) Lakshman Hulugalla told Daily Mirror online that the General or his lawyers did not have any valid reason to object the members of the panel and could not use this as an excuse from staying away.

He added that the General would be produced in court by the authorities even if he refused.

“There is no reason why he should not attend. The General is in army custody so he will be produced before the court by the authorities even if he refuses,” Hulugalla said.

The JVP said earlier today that lawyers of Sarath Fonseka will appear before the court martial on Tuesday to challenge the legality of trying the former Army Commander before a bench comprising officers junior to him in rank.

They added that Fonseka would not appear for Tuesday’s hearing.

Source: Dailymirror Online