Discussions between Sarath Fonseka’s side and the President for a Presidential pardon to annul the verdict of the first Court Martial against Fonseka have reportedly failed. The first Court Martial has dismissed Fonseka from the office of Chief of Defence Staff and has prevented him from enjoying the prestige and privileges of the office.

It is learnt that the Defence Secretary is continuously opposing any move to allow Fonseka to be re-appointed as a General. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has said that the only effective way to get back at Fonseka was to remove the post of General and to take back the land in Kirimandala Mawatha, Nawala that was given to him after the end of the war.

However, the President had previously informed MP Tiran Alles that he could not grant a Presidential pardon against the verdict of the first Court Martial. The failure of the talks with the President has now left Fonseka depending solely on the petition filed before the Supreme Court against the Court Martial decision to get some relief.

When the petition was taken up for hearing recently before the Supreme Court, the Deputy Solicitor General who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General has said the petition should be heard. Fonseka withdrew the petitions filed against the second Court Martial verdict and the verdict of the White Flag case, but did not withdraw the petition against the first Court Martial verdict.