Democratic Party leader Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said that he would sue Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe demanding Rs 5000 million as damages for defamatory statements made against him.

Fonseka made this observation during a meeting in Minuwangoda yesterday.

Minister of Justice Wijedasa Rajapakse recently said that he was mulling legal action against Sarath Fonseka, demanding Rs 500 million as damages for the allegedly defamatory statement made against him regarding the Avant Garde issue. Fonseka referred to Rajapakshe as a 'thief' for covering up the controversy. Fonseka claimed that Rajapakshe accepted bribes from the Avant-Garde company.

Rajapakshe also said that as a Field Marshal, Fonseka should have behaved in a gentlemanly manner.