Anoma Fonseka, wife of the former Army chief and detained Presidential candidate, Sarath Fonseka leaves the Supreme Cort in Colombo after refusing the the release of Sarath Fonseka. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 23/02/2010.
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court refused Tuesday to order the release of detained opposition leader and former army chief Sarath Fonseka as it deliberates a petition challenging his arrest by the military.
Fonseka, 59, has been held at a naval detention centre since his arrest on February 8, sparking international condemnation and violent protests two weeks after he was trounced in presidential polls by President Mahinda Rajapakse.
A further hearing has been scheduled for April 26.
Fonseka's wife had filed a petition challenging the legality of his detention, and asking the court to order his immediate release pending a judgement.
Tuesday's ruling means he will remain in custody until the court makes a final ruling. The United States, the European Union and the United Nations, among others, have asked Colombo to ensure the process is followed and that democracy is not undermined.
Anoma Fonseka announced the new opposition alliance to face the April 8 parliamentary election.
As the battlefield architect of the victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels last May, Fonseka had been hailed as a national hero for finally crushing their 37-year campaign for an independent Tamil homeland.
