Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka yesterday said that he declined to discuss anything without consulting the Sri Lankan government though the US put pressure on him.

Speaking to The Island shortly after returning from the US, the war veteran said that the US had wanted information regarding Defece Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. The General said that he had received a written request to that effect.

He said that no one could challenge the right of any Sri Lankan to enter politics. He declined to comment on recent media reports which suggested that he could join the presidential fray.

The General arrived in Colombo after the US dropped its plan to ‘interview’ him following high level discussions between the two countries. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that the US had absolutely no right to either interview or question the General.