Retired Chief of Defense Staff General Sarath Fonseka met with the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis this afternoon, sources close to the General told Daily Mirror online. The purpose behind the discussion was not known.
When contacted by Daily Mirror online the US Embassy in Sri Lanka neither denied nor confirmed if such a meeting took place.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of recent reports the US had attempted to use General Fonseka to file human rights charges against top Sri Lankan government and military officials.
During his visit to the US in October the General was requested to appear for an interview with the US Department of Homeland Security in Oklahoma City. However the Sri Lankan Government intervened to ensure no interview happened.
The US Department of Homeland Security had requested the General to give evidence against Secretary of Defense Ghotabaya Rajapaksa on war crimes charges. The said interview was expected to take place on the 4th of November however the General returned to the island prior to this date.
During the time the General had agreed to the interview with Homeland Security and then retracted his agreement after consulting with the Sri Lankan Government.
The Sri Lankan government later protested over the attempt and even summoned the US envoy in Colombo to express displeasure. The Sri Lankan government was of the view that the US cannot question Sri Lankan Citizens or High Ranking Officials traveling on Diplomatic passports.
