Colombo: Sri Lanka's detained ex-army chief
Sarath Fonseka on Friday filed nomination papers as a candidate of
a new opposition alliance for the April 8 Parliamentary poll,
which is set to witness a three-cornered fight also involving
the ruling UPFA and former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe's UNF.
59-year-old Fonseka filed his nomination from the Colombo
District constituency under the Democratic National Alliance
(DNA) this morning and it has been accepted by the Election
Commission, said Somawansa Amarsinghe, the chief of Marxist
JVP, which is a key constituent of DNA.
Today was the last day for filing nomination papers.
Fonseka's papers were filed by DNA General Secretary Vijitha
Herath.
Campaigning has already begun for the crucial polls,
which are being held more than two months after the January 26
Presidential election in which incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa
defeated Fonseka, who was the candidate of the joint
opposition.
Fonseka's wife Anoma will join the campaigning for DNA
soon. "We will be campaigning across the country. North and
East (of Sri Lanka) are important for us and we did well there
during the Presidential elections," Amarsinghe said to a news agency.
Fonseka, who was arrested on conspiracy charges, is being
detained at the Naval Headquarters here.
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 26, 2010, 19:35