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| Sri Lanka former army chief Sarath Fonseka given amnesty | Sri Lanka former army chief Sarath Fonseka given amnesty |
| (less than a minute earlier) | |
| Former Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka has been acquitted of all charges filed against him by the former government of Mahinda Rajapaksa. | Former Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka has been acquitted of all charges filed against him by the former government of Mahinda Rajapaksa. |
| He has been granted a complete amnesty by new President Maithripala Sirisena. | He has been granted a complete amnesty by new President Maithripala Sirisena. |
| Mr Fonseka served under Mr Rajapaksa, but stood against him in the 2010 presidential vote and was then jailed for corruption and other offences. | Mr Fonseka served under Mr Rajapaksa, but stood against him in the 2010 presidential vote and was then jailed for corruption and other offences. |
| The two men oversaw a military campaign against Tamil rebels in which thousands of civilians are said to have died. | The two men oversaw a military campaign against Tamil rebels in which thousands of civilians are said to have died. |
| Over a career of four decades, Sarath Fonseka has been Sri Lanka's most high profile and arguably its most tactically successful army officer, playing a key role in the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009. | Over a career of four decades, Sarath Fonseka has been Sri Lanka's most high profile and arguably its most tactically successful army officer, playing a key role in the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009. |
| Analysis: Charles Haviland, former Sri Lanka correspondent, BBC News | Analysis: Charles Haviland, former Sri Lanka correspondent, BBC News |
| Sarath Fonseka is one of the most divisive figures in Sri Lankan politics. He led the army to victory over the Tamil Tigers in a campaign controversial for its large number of civilian casualties. | Sarath Fonseka is one of the most divisive figures in Sri Lankan politics. He led the army to victory over the Tamil Tigers in a campaign controversial for its large number of civilian casualties. |
| He has denied allegations contained in a UN-commissioned report that tens of thousands of civilian Tamils were killed. But, speaking to the BBC in 2012, he said Sri Lanka must co-operate with any international investigation into war crimes allegations. Such statements had him branded as a "traitor" by the previous Rajapaksa government. | He has denied allegations contained in a UN-commissioned report that tens of thousands of civilian Tamils were killed. But, speaking to the BBC in 2012, he said Sri Lanka must co-operate with any international investigation into war crimes allegations. Such statements had him branded as a "traitor" by the previous Rajapaksa government. |
| Whether he will adopt the same stance under the apparent new order in Colombo remains to be seen. New President Maithripala Sirisena - strongly backed by Mr Fonseka - has disowned Mr Rajapaksa, but has vowed not to allow him to be hauled before an international war crimes court. The Rajapaksa government also refused to allow a team of UN-mandated war crimes investigators into the country. It seems unlikely Mr Sirisena, who was once a close ally of the former president, will do otherwise. | Whether he will adopt the same stance under the apparent new order in Colombo remains to be seen. New President Maithripala Sirisena - strongly backed by Mr Fonseka - has disowned Mr Rajapaksa, but has vowed not to allow him to be hauled before an international war crimes court. The Rajapaksa government also refused to allow a team of UN-mandated war crimes investigators into the country. It seems unlikely Mr Sirisena, who was once a close ally of the former president, will do otherwise. |
| He lost his civic rights following his conviction, including the right to vote, and was stripped of his rank. These rights were not restored when President Rajapaksa released him from prison in May 2012. | He lost his civic rights following his conviction, including the right to vote, and was stripped of his rank. These rights were not restored when President Rajapaksa released him from prison in May 2012. |
| However, President Sirisena promised to rehabilitate him after the former general played a key role in his election victory earlier this month. | However, President Sirisena promised to rehabilitate him after the former general played a key role in his election victory earlier this month. |
| Rights groups say that Mr Fonseka and President Rajapaksa are both implicated in shooting Tamil fighters as they sought to surrender. Both men deny the allegations. | Rights groups say that Mr Fonseka and President Rajapaksa are both implicated in shooting Tamil fighters as they sought to surrender. Both men deny the allegations. |
| Mr Fonseka, who was nearly assassinated by a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber in 2006, once told the BBC the "crowning achievement" of his military career was wiping out the rebels. | Mr Fonseka, who was nearly assassinated by a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber in 2006, once told the BBC the "crowning achievement" of his military career was wiping out the rebels. |