Fonseka was left behind from President’s US delegation – Gammanpila

MP Udaya Gammanpila stated that that the claim made by Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who stated that he was unable to attend the 72nd General Assembly of the UN as he could not obtain a Visa to travel to the Unites States, was a fabrication made to save face in the eyes of the public. 

Speaking to the media at a press conference today (21), the leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU), stated that the pronouncement made by Field Marshal Fonseka deeming certain military persons guilty of war crimes is a gross disrespect to the Sri Lankan armed forces. 

He further stated that the Field Marshal lied to the public when he stated that he was denied entry into the United States due to alleged war crimes charges levied at varied military personalities who served during his tenure as Army Chief. 

It was also mentioned that several delegates who attended the UN General Assembly were granted Visas without any inquiry or sanction as a special provision for the attendees of the event.   
 
MP Gammanpila further questioned the legitimacy of Field Marshal Fonseka’s statements when major adversaries of the United States such as Fidel Castro, Muammar Gaddafi, Pol Pot, Sun Yat-Sen and Saddam Hussein where granted entry to the country for several International events. He went on to state that in actuality, President Maithripala Sirisena opted to leave Fonseka behind as he saw him as a liability. 

The Leader of the PHU further stated that the President decided to remove Field Marshal Fonseka from his delegation as punishment for the prolonged insults made by the Field Marshal aimed at the Buddhist clergy of the country.  He stated that the Field Marshal is using the Visa scandal as a front to mask his own shame.