Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka

Persmission sought

Defending lawyer sought court's permission to ask only one question relevant to the report compiled by an advisory panel to the UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon, when 'white flag' case was taken up for hearing on Thursday.

In this case Sarath Fonseka is alleged to have told Sunday Leader that the Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse had ordered to shoot all LTTE cadres who had come forward to surrender holding white flags.

On a notice issued earlier, a Director General of Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry, C.A.M.Wijeratne tabled a copy of the report compiled by a team led by Marzuki Darusman to the court on Thursday.

Prosecuting counsel told court that it is contrary to Evidence Odinance to raise questions with regard to Darushman Panel Report.

Single question

High Court allowed defence lawyer to ask a single question despite objections.

Answering to the question, Director General C.A.M.Wijeratne told court that there has not been any mention in the UN Panel Report about a white flag statement allegedly made by former army commander Sarath Fonseka as reported by Sunday Leader newspaper.

He also told the court that he was not aware of the basis on which UN panel report has been composed.

The case will be taken up again on 23rd of June.