The second Court martial to try the former Sri Lankan Army Commander and defeated presidential candidate General (retd) Sarath Fonseka on charges of irregularities in military procurement procedures would commence tomorrow.<br/><br/>Former Sri Lankan Army Commander and defeated presidential candidate General (retd) Sarath Fonseka faced the first Court martial today on three charges including that of engaging in politics while in office.<br/><br/>During the proceedings Fonseka was present along with his lawyers. It had its sitting at the Navy House. The next sitting of the tribunal is scheduled two days before the April 8 Parliamentary election.<br/><br/>Last week the Army had announced that Sarath Fonseka will be tried in two court martial and a tribunal consisting of three members was constituted to enquire into charges of indulging in political activities while still in uniform and violation of military rules as well as unduly favouring the company which is partly owned by his son-in-law.<br/><br/>Today’s court martial was be the first ever military trial against an officer of the highest rank in the history of the Sri Lanka Army.<br/><br/>The Court Martial is being held in accordance with the Sections 124 (1), 102 and 109 of the Army Act.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the Presidential Secretariat in a statement referred to the alleged lists maintained by some of the functionaries in the Government naming NGO’s and other critics and complained that it is part of a well coordinated campaign to defame the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government.<br/><br/>AIR Colombo correspondent reports that today's court martial is the first against a former Army Chief in Sri Lanka. Ironically, Sarath Fonseka is the first four star General in the island nation. He was conferred the rank by the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa after the security forces had militarily crushed LTTE in May last year.<br/><br/>Speaking to AIR, the military spokesperson Major General Prasad Samarasinghe said that Sarath Fonseka accompanied by his lawyers today faced the proceedings of the first court martial .The next date of the first court martial has been scheduled for 6th of April. The military spokesperson said that process of court martial may take a few weeks before a determination is made by the jury.<br/><br/>A three-member panel of two-star generals has been named to try Sarath Fonseka, who is charged with engaging in politics while he was still the commander of the army and making military purchases in contravention of the set procedures.<br/><br/>The proceedings for the second court martial will commence tomorrow. The proceedings will be ‘in camera’.<br/><br/>Today's court martial is the first against a former Army Chief in Sri Lanka. Ironically Sarath Fonseka is the first four star General in the island nation. He was conferred the rank by the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa after the security forces had militarily crushed LTTE in May last year.<br/><br/>Speaking to AIR, the military spokesperson Major General Prasad Samarasinghe said that Sarath Fonseka accompanied by his lawyers today faced the proceedings of the first court martial .The next date of the first court martial has been scheduled for 6th of April. The military spokesperson said that process of court martial may take a few weeks before a determination is made by the jury.<br/><br/>A three-member panel of two-star generals has been named to try Sarath Fonseka, who is charged with engaging in politics while he was still the commander of the army and making military purchases in contravention of the set procedures.<br/><br/>The proceedings for the second court martial will commence tomorrow. The proceedings will be ‘in camera’.