Colombo: Sri Lanka's former top military
general Sarath Fonseka, who may contest Presidential election
as an opposition candidate, has opened his election office in
the heart of the capital and is likely to appoint a campaign
manager soon, a media report said on Sunday.
Fonseka, who led the armed forces to a thumping victory
against the LTTE early this year, quit as the Chief of Defence
Staff last week.
He was decided upon by an alliance of opposition parties
as their joint Presidential candidate against President
Mahinda Rajapaksa in the event of an early election but he
himself has not made his stance clear on the issue.
"Fonseka has opened his election office in the former
Vanik Building near Royal College, and his campaign manager is
likely to be SLFP Mahajana Wing leader Mangala Samaraweera of
SLPF (Sri Lanka Progressive Front)," Lakbimanews said in a
report.
In his farewell letter to the armed forces, Fonseka, had
vowed to protect democratic freedom and human rights.
"I want to assure you that I will commit myself to
protect democratic freedoms which we are rapidly losing,"
he said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 17:55