Former Sri Lankan army chief General (retired) Sarath Fonseka on Wednesday alleged that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would not have handed over power had the result of the presidential elections not gone in his favour.
Talking to an Indian news channel from the lakefront luxury hotel in central Colombo, which was surrounded by heavily-armed soldiers even as the votes were being counted, Fonseka said: 'Their (Sri Lankan government) plan was to deploy troops around my house, my office, the broadcasting corporation, the national television station and if he (President Rajapaksa) lost, the instruction he gave to army commanders and the security council, was to take me into custody and that he will not hand over the power.'
'They wanted the army commander to arrest me and he told the air force commander to put air force people at their airport take over their airport they sent the army to all broadcasting stations and television stations... they sent all the people on leave; they had only some people and the army these were indications of a military coup,' Fonseka told television channel NewsX.
However, rejecting Fonseka's claims, military spokesman brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the troops had been deployed following information that army deserters were among the 400 people present inside the hotel.
According to reports last available, Rajapaksa polled 35.6 lakh votes or 60.62 per cent in 114 of the 160 electorates where the initial results were available. Fonseka is estimated to have polled 20.92 lakh votes accounting for 37.58 per cent of the votes.
Even though he is disappointed with his own men having surrounded him, Fonseka is confident that the Army in general will back him.
'The Army will not accept this. Morally, they support me. At the moment, they are still trying to remain disciplined. But if they get the legal orders, the Army will not react. However, some unruly elements -- they are people already outside -- they will try to interfere, but not the total Army,' he said.
