JOIN USSri Lanka's jailed former army chief Sarath Fonseka Friday got bail in a case in which he is accused of harbouring army deserters.
Fonseka was granted the one million rupees ($8,000) bail and ordered to hand over his passport to the court. He was absent when the ruling was given as he is hospitalized.
Fonseka will, however, remain in jail and await the president's pardon as he is also serving a three-year sentence after being found guilty for alleging that the surrendering Tamil Tigers were killed during the ethnic war.
On Thursday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa's spokesperson announced the cabinet's approval for the release of the former army commander.
Earlier, the president had a discussion with Fonseka's wife Anoma Fonseka, who was leading the campaign of his party Democratic National Alliance (DNA).
Fonseka led the country's three decades war to victory as the army commander. But he and the president fell out when the former entered politics and contested in the presidential election in 2010.
Days after his defeat, Fonseka was arrested and has since then remained in detention.