Troops surround Colombo hotel where Fonseka is lodged
January 27th, 2010 - 11:48 am ICT by IANS ( Leave a comment )Colombo, Jan 27 (IANS) Heavily armed soldiers surrounded a hotel here where the main challenger in the presidential election, General Sarath Fonseka, is staying, a media report said Wednesday.
Votes were being counted in Sri Lanka’s first presidential election since Tamil Tiger rebels were defeated after over 25 years of war.
BBC reported that armed troops are stationed outside the Cinnamon Lakeside hotel, searching every vehicle that enters.
Fonseka is quoted as saying the troops plan to arrest him if he wins the election. A military spokesman has denied these claims.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has taken an early lead over his main rival, former army commander Fonseka, as the votes were being counted Wednesday.
With over 700,000 votes counted by 5 a.m Rajapaksa had taken a lead of over 179,000 over Fonseka who had 278,000 to the incumbent’s 458,000 votes, Xinhua news agency reported.
- Rajapaksa takes early lead in Sri Lanka's presidential poll - Jan 27, 2010
- Rajapaksa extends lead as troops surround Fonseka hotel (Lead) - Jan 27, 2010
- Rajapaksa takes big lead as soldiers surround Fonseka hotel (Second Lead) - Jan 27, 2010
- Rajapaksa leads in poll as troops encircle Fonseka hotel (Third Lead) - Jan 27, 2010
- Landslide win for Rajapaksa, besieged Fonseka claims rigging (Roundup) - Jan 27, 2010
- Rajapaksa's victory secured, says Sri Lankan official (Lead) - Jan 27, 2010
- Rajapaksa takes early lead in Sri Lankan presidential poll - Jan 27, 2010
- Rajpaksa close to becoming Lanka President for a second term - Jan 27, 2010
- Fonseka loses MP seat appeal as Sri Lankan SC rules court martial legal - Jan 26, 2011
- Lankan Army surrounds Fonseka's hotel in Colombo - Jan 27, 2010
- Former Sri Lankan Army chief arrested, to be court-martialled (Second Lead) - Feb 09, 2010
- Sri Lanka lawmakers give sweeping powers to President Rajapaksa - Sep 09, 2010
- Sri Lanka court frees four co-accused in Fonseka 'conspiracy' case - Sep 25, 2010
- Fonseka jailed for three years - Nov 18, 2011
- First visit to northern Sri Lanka by a president in 30 years - Jan 10, 2010
Tags: army commander, bbc, challenger, cinnamon, mahinda rajapaksa, military spokesman, president mahinda rajapaksa, presidential election, sarath fonseka, sri lanka, sri lankan president, tamil tiger rebels, tiger, xinhua news agency
