* Second court martial of former Sri Lanka military leader adjourned until further notice
Wed, Mar 17, 2010, 06:16 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Mar 17: Colombo: The second court martial convened today (17) to hear four allegations on the contravention of military procurement procedures by Sri Lanka's former Army Commander Retired General Sarath Fonseka, had adjourned sittings over the composition of the tribunal.

The Army said in a statement that the second court martial assembled at the Navy Headquarters this morning to hear charges of alleged contravention of military procurement procedures against General Fonseka unanimously decided to adjourn its sittings and refer the composition of the tribunal to convening authorities.

The statement further noted that the tribunal, considering submissions maintained that although the provisions in the Army Act empower same members of one court martial to sit for another tribunal for the same accused, provided alleged prosecuting charges are of different nature, it prefers to be reconvened for the sake of maintaining high degree of transparency and unprejudiced nature.

The sittings were therefore adjourned until further notice.