Sri Lanka ex-general goes on trial;supporters protest

The court martial held at the navy headquarters in Colombo was adjourned until next month after lawyers for the army commander challenged the legitimacy of the court and opposed the choice of members of the military tribunal.

Fonseka, who lost a presidential election to incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier this year, was arrested last month following allegations that he was plotting a coup against the government.

The former army commander has denied the allegations and said these were political motivated and aimed at denying him the chance to run in parliamentary elections next month.

"The general said that he is not either pleading guilty or not guilty because the court has no power to hear and try these charges," Nalin Ladduwahetti, one of eight lawyers appearing on his behalf, said.

The case was adjourned until April 6 but Fonseka is due to appear again on Wednesday before another court martial investigating malpractices in military procurement.

Hundreds of Fonseka supporters protested against what they said was his "illegal" arrest and court martial, blocking traffic on a street in Colombo.

Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and arrested 10 people, a spokesman said. The protest took place despite the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna (JVP), an ally of the army general, calling off a planned protest. It gave no reason.

Prolonged street protests, strikes and labour unrest could have a ripple impact on Sri Lanka's $40 billion (26.5 billion pound) economy, which is forecast to grow more than 6 percent this year following the end of the 25-year war against Tamil Tiger separatists last year.

Protests after the arrest of Fonseka in February dragged down the island nation's share market but stocks have since recovered, even though foreign investors have been net sellers.