Maithripala to restore full military honours to Fonseka

Thursday, 4 December 2014 01:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Common opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena has vowed to restore former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka’s military honours and rank within hours of his election in the 8 January presidential poll.

Opposition common candidate Maithripala Sirisena speaks at a party members’ meeting where Democratic Party Leader Sarath Fonseka extended support - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

Addressing the media after talks held with Fonseka yesterday, Sirisena said that although attempts had been made to erase the former General’s role in the victory over the LTTE, the retired soldier remains forever in the hearts of the people. “Whether 100 years from now or 1000 years from now, history will remember that there was a brutal terrorist named Prabhakaran in Sri Lanka. The record books will note that the hero of the battle to defeat him, the soldier, was Sarath Fonseka,” Sirisena charged. Fonseka was stripped of his rank and military honours after he was arrested following the 2010 presidential poll in which he contested President Mahinda Rajapaksa and was indicted on several charges. Sirisena told journalists that he had agreed to all the proposals put forward by Fonseka’s party to work together in the presidential poll. (DB)