Opposition forms movement to win democracy and free Fonseka

Main opposition United National Party (UNP) together with several political parties, trade unions and civil society organisations have formed a new movement called the People’s Movement Against Dictatorial Insanity.

The Movement is to stage a protest today (8) against the government for the suppression of the people and the imprisonment of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka.

The protest is to be held at the Fort Railway Station and a number of other protests and rallies will be held in each district with the participation of more than 100,000 people against the government.

UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya has said that the people have begun to understand the damage done by the 18th Amendment after Sarath Fonseka was put behind bars.

He has told the local media that the people don’t want to be suppressed any longer.

United Socialist Party’s Siritunga Jayasuriya has said the government was attempting to eliminate the opposition parties so as to create a dictatorship.

DNA to fight against Fonseka’s removal from P’ment

Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka Thursday said that his lawyers would write to the Elections Commissioner and the Secretary General of Parliament about Fonseka’s parliamentary seat.

A DNA lawmaker told ColomboPage that Fonseka’s lawyers would write to the two officials saying the decision to remove Fonseka from his parliamentary seat is incorrect and that it needs to be withdrawn.

He said the DNA lawyers would challenge the move as the imprisonment verdict was delivered by a military court and not a civil court.

“The Constitution states the conviction should be made through a civil court in order to lose a parliamentary seat,” he said.

The acting Secretary General of Sri Lanka parliament informed the Elections Commissioner today that under the Constitution Sarath Fonseka has lost his parliamentary seat due to his 30-month long imprisonment.