Sri Lankan President and Commander in Chief Mahinda Rajapaksa has given his assent on the recommendations of the first Court Martial Tribunal to cashier the retired General Sarath Fonseka from the military. The military court convicted Sarath Fonseka on all three charges sentencing him for a dishonorable discharge from the Sri Lanka Army. In accordance with provisions in the Army Act under Section (124), Fonseka was indicted by the Court Martial of being traitorous and use of disloyal words and under Section (102), he was charged for neglect to obey garrison or other orders. The first Court Martial examined cases relating to General Sarath Fonseka's alleged involvement in political work while in active service. Fonseka had successfully led the victorious Sri Lankan Army in the war against the LTTE and he was elevated to the position as the first four star General of the country. The retired General, Fonseka who unsuccessfully contested as the common opposition candidate the January Presidential election against the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa has been under the detention of the military since February. A second court martial proceeding is on against the former Army Chief. Under the second one the former military chief is also being tried on charges of making military purchases in contravention of the set procedures. The court martial proceedings against the retired General Sarath Fonseka are the first ever military trial against an officer of the highest rank in the history of the Sri Lanka Army. Meanwhile local media reports, quoted Anoma Fonseka as saying that Sarath Fonseka has not accepted the ruling given by the first court martial. She quoted Gen. (retd) Fonseka as saying that the decision was handed over by lower ranking military officials to a four star General which was unacceptable and a ‘humorous joke’.