Lanka Prez poll scene still murky

The United National Party (UNP) will take a decision on supporting the candidature of Gen Sarath Fonseka, currently Chief of Defence Staff, in the coming Sri Lankan presidential election, only after its leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, returns from New Delhi.

A top UNP source told Express here on Sunday that the issue was clouded.

“As on date, there is no certainty that Gen Fonseka will be a presidential candidate, let alone being a common Opposition candidate.

He is not saying anything, ” the source said.

However, the media and political circles are vigorously discussing the possibility of the General’s candidature and its pros and cons. They are speculating whether he would fight as a party candidate or as an Independent supported by various parties.

While the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna is in favour of his candidature, the constituents of the UNP-led UNF are unsure and divided.

The Democratic Peoples’ Front, a party of Indian Origin Tamils led by Mano Ganesan, for example, has forwarded a questionnaire to Fonseka asking for his policy on the Tamil question, the war refugees, and the abolition of the Executive Presidency.

Suresh Premachandran, an MP of the TNA, a party based in the war-affected North and East, told Express that the choice for the Sri Lankan Tamils would be between the devil and deep sea if the main contestants were Rajapaksa and Fonseka.

FONESKA MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESIGN: Raising a legal issue, The Sunday Island said that the President might not accept Gen Fonseka’s resignation from the army. The Chief of Defence Staff Act makes it clear that the CDS cannot quit if the President does not allow him to.

[Full Coverage]

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