Fonseka says Mahinda Rajapaksa should face 400-year prison term

Speaking at a public event, the former Army Commander criticised successive Sri Lankan leaders for lacking vision, contrasting them with international figures such as Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad, and Rwanda’s Gen. Juvénal Habyarimana, whom he credited for taking firm stances against corruption.

Referring to past incidents, Fonseka recalled that during Rajapaksa’s tenure, 65 individuals were taken on an official visit to China aboard a SriLankan Airlines flight, and cited another case in which a private jet from Uganda was allegedly flown to Thirupathi, purportedly sent by a “friend.”

While stating he did not agree with all of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s actions, Fonseka said he approved of the precedent set by the current administration in holding officials accountable. “Based on that precedent, someone like Rajapaksa would have to be sentenced to around 400 years,” he said.

He also addressed recent remarks by MP Namal Rajapaksa regarding his past imprisonment, accusing the Rajapaksa government of expelling 35 senior Army officers who were close to him—generals, brigadiers, majors, and colonels—from service without pensions.