Colombo, Feb 2: Reacting to allegation of attempting a military coup, defeated presidential candidate Gen Sarath Fonseka said on Monday, Feb 1, that he has never planned to assassinate president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family.

"After election the government is saying that we are trying to stage a coup which is a total deliberate lie," he said, adding that he had only a few police personnel giving him protection.

Citing his innocence, Fonseka said that he and his supporters went to the hotel as they got hold of copies of army headquarters operation branch assassination plan, the day of the election.

"We all went to the hotel (on January 26) of the second floor because we got the copies of the assassination plan which was planned by the army headquarters operation branch and we got the copies. And according to that they (the army headquarters) were to surround my house, Opposition leader's house, my office on night of January 26, take all of us into custody and assassinate," Fonseka said.

He said that they had assembled together for security reason and not to plan a coup.

"When we heard about this all of us decided to go to one stay in one place. We put all the security personnel together for enhanced security arrangements, he said.

12 senior military officers were sacked by the government, a day after the declaration of the election results on the grounds that they were a 'threat to national security' and were planning   a political conspiracy.

Earlier, the Sri Lankan defence ministry officials claimed that they have evidence to prove the allegation against the Fonseka.

OneIndia News