Charles Haviland Colombo

	There were many protests demanding the release of former army chief

He had challenged the validity of the military court system that sentenced him to prison four months ago after finding him guilty of corruption in arms procurement. But the Supreme Court dismissed the challenge.

The petition from Sarath Fonseka and his lawyers asserted that the system of General Courts Martial, which twice tried Mr Fonseka last year and twice found him guilty, was illegal.

Prison sentence

If the petition had been successful, the former military chief would have been able to return to his seat in parliament.

His sentences to two and a half years in prison, and to losing his rank and medals, would have been thrown into doubt.

But, on the contrary, the Supreme Court has ruled that the system of military trial was legal and constitutional. Because of its prison sentence on him, he will lose his seat and also his civic rights including voting rights for six years.

Year since defeat

The electoral commission will now seek to replace him with a new member of parliament from the same party. Wednesday marks one year since Mr Fonseka lost the presidential election to his one-time ally, Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Less than two weeks later he was arrested and is now serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence in a top-security prison.

Resignation threat

	Chief Justice and the president had 'disagreement'

There has been a series of reports that the 60-year-old former general, who was once nearly killed by a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber, is ill in jail. But he is still visiting the courts for a series of other charges pending against him.

Earlier this month there were reports that Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice had tried to resign after a serious argument with President Rajapaksa. The issue was raised in parliament, but nothing was confirmed.