Democratic Party leader Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka lashed out at the Avant Garde Maritime Services Chairman Major (retired) Nissanka Senadhipathi, saying that he employed up to 2000 army deserters on a minimal pay.

Speaking at a press conference at the Democratic Party headquarters yesterday, Fonseka said that Senadhipathi had offered to fund the Democratic Party election campaign entirely.

"If he offered to fund a small party like ours, it is no wonder that he funded people of larger parties" Fonseka said.

Fonseka said that Senadhipathi called merely three days after the Presidential Election in January to make this offer.

Meanwhile, Fonseka vehemently attacked Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa, urging the President and the Prime Minister to remove him from office.