Ms. Anoma Fonseka had been given permission to take a mobile phone to the cell Gen. Fonseka is imprisoned when she visited him taking his meals. Gen. Fonseka used this phone to communicate with his two daughters. Suddenly, yesterday Ms. Fonseka was not allowed to take in the mobile phone to the cell and Gen. Sarath Fonseka was denied his right to communicate with his daughters. Gen. Fonseka commenced the hunger strike today morning in protest of the denial of his right to communicate with his children.

 

Speaking at the press conference held today Ms. Anoma Fonseka said, "Whenever I visited my husband I took my mobile phone which has IDD facility. My husband uses this phone to communicate with our two daughters.

 

When I took my husband's dinner yesterday the officer who accompanied me said I would not be allowed to take in the mobile phone. It was like lightening striking my heart. For, what ever the world say, I know what a good father my husband is. I know how he loves the children.

 

Our two daughters are eagerly waiting everyday for a call from him as they are thousands of miles away from us. He is also waiting till I visit him to talk to the children. Talking to the children is a relief for him.

 

The Court has given him the use of the phone. The directive of the Court too was violated to prevent me taking the mobile phone into the cell. I asked why such action was taken. The officers there told me the directive to prevent the phone being taken to the cell was given by the Ministry of Defense.

 

At this my husband said he decided not to take any meals until the right is given back to him. Accordingly, he is engaged in a hunger strike from today morning.

 

It is only yesterday I knew that the Ministry of Defense is above the Judiciary. I see this as revenge. Only a man without a heart, who doesn't know the love of a father, can carry out such a vile act."(LT)