COLOMBO: Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who led the Sri Lankan army to a resounding victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the 2006-220 Eelam War IV, but was tried, imprisoned and stripped of his rank, medals, pension and civic rights, by the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa, has now got back all that.
The Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday, that Fonseka is now entitled to his rank of Four Star General (of Army General’s rank), and other entitlements taken away in 2010, after he was sentenced to imprisonment by two Army tribunals.
General Fonseka can now wear the Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP), Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV), Uththama Seva Padakkama (USP) and all other decorations which had been awarded to him during his career.
Newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena had pledged in his election manifesto, that he would restore to Fonseka all that had been unfairly taken away from him.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defense Secretary Gotbaya Rajapaksa suspected that Gen.Fonseka was trying to impose military rule after Eelam War IV. His political ambitions were confirmed when he contested the 2010 Presidential election against Rajapaksa with the support of the opposition parties.
Though Fonseka was defeated in the election, Rajapaksa hounded him, slapping charges of plotting a coup and indulging in irregularities in army procurements. Two Courts Martial were set up to try him. He was prematurely released in May 2012, following international pressure, but his rank, other entitlements and civic rights were not given back to him.
Fonseka founded the Democratic National Alliance which won some seats in the parliament elected in 2010. He has already announced his interest in contesting the April 2015 parliamentary elections.
