Former Army Commander and Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka yesterday filed a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking adequate security and secure quarters. 

He named Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the Army Commander, the Inspector General of Police, the Acting Chief of Defence Staff, Presidential Secretary and the Attorney General as respondents.

In his petition he said the decision not to provide him adequate security had been taken mala fide for the reasons that he would be a presidential candidate and opposing the president politically. (Read More)

People of the northern and eastern parts of the country had been prevented from exercising their franchise at the last presidential election in 2005 by the LTTE and he wanted to give them an opportunity to elect their leader, President Rajapaksa said. "Therefore, I came forward to face an election two years before the expiry of my first term," he said, "that is something not even the president of a Death Donation Society is willing to do."

Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa, MP, who was among the government politicians and officials flanking President Rajapaksa at yesterday’s media briefing at Temple Trees, said that IDPs would be eligible for voting at the next presidential election.

Pointing out that the making of a new Constitution required a two thirds majority in Parliament, a smiling President firing a broadside at his rivals without naming names; he said a Constitution could be changed either by a democratic government or by a military government.

The country needed political stability to achieve progress and politicians must not succumb to external pressure or the lure of money.When it was pointed out that there had already occurred several incidents of political violence even before the presidential election was officially announced,

President Rajapaksa said he was concerned about them. However, he said, some incidents had to do with intra-party rivalries rather than inter party disputes. As an example, he cited a recent incident in Colombo North, where a UNP MP had been booed off the stage allegedly by a group of dissidents.

"I will ensure that there will be no violence," President Rajapaksa said, "I will see to it that no pistol gangs roam the country."

He said the Opposition had embraced someone whom it had been blaming for violence, and was now hailing him as the saviour of democracy. "Kanna oneunama kabaragoya thalgoya wenawa," the President said—‘when one feels like eating a water monitor, it becomes a land monitor’.

Answering a question what had become of the probes into attacks on media personnel and the killing of Lasantha Wickremetunga, President Rajapaksa said investigations were continuing but no breakthrough had yet been made. "I have called for a report from the investigators on the progress of the probes and you will be kept informed," he said.

Commenting on the JVP’s position that it was illegal to conduct another presidential election, President Rajapaksa said, if so, the JVP could always invoke the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court against his decision.

The UNF-JVP combine has settled the issue at confidential talks involving key negotiators, including Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mangala Samaraweera, Tissa Attanayake, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and retired Army Chief General Sarath Fonseka.

Senior Vice President of the UNP,John Ameratunga told The Island that after several rounds of talks the UNF leaders agreed on Fonseka as their candidate.

Asked if Fonseka was agreeable to the UNF’s 10 point policy statement, he said that unless there was agreement, the alliance would not have picked Fonseka.  (Read More)

When told that certain newspapers have quoted him as saying that he would contest the Presidency, General Fonseka said that it would be better to check with the newspaper. He also said that some newspapers have said that the problem in finding a residence has been settled, but he still had not been informed about it. "I would like to settle this problem. If it is not settled I will go before Court," he said.

The Island earlier said that Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga had asked the General to stay at the Bullers’ Road residence until he finds a suitable house. General Fonseka is expected to issue an official statement regarding the housing matter.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday declared the much awaited presidential election and instructed Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake to take appropriate steps to conduct the poll on a suitable date.  

Meanwhile the Gazette notification declaring the presidential election was being printed at the government press, sources from the government printing press said last night.

The President announced his decision to go for a snap presidential election at a meeting with leaders of political parties constituting the ruling UPFA and the district organizers.

He said his decision to go before the people two years before the end of his first term of office was because he had been able to accomplish in four years the work that was planned for six years.   Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa told Daily Mirror that the political party leaders who attended the meeting pledged their full support to the President.

“The President has decided to hold the presidential election and asked for the support of the party leaders. They did not hesitate to extend their wholehearted support to the government in the re election campaign,” he said. (Read More)

The UNP Working Committee (WC) would meet next Friday to take a decision on the common candidate to be fielded for the presidential election.

Party’s General Secretary MP Tissa Attanayake told Daily Mirror yesterday that there was no change in their stand in this respect, but they had to wait till each party in the newly formed United National Front (UNF) to obtain the approval of its internal highest decision body.

“Before that, we cannot make any formal announcement. We will do it at the right time. Our Working Committee will meet on Friday for this purpose.  The other parties in the UNF will also do the same,” he said.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday that it would ensure the participation of Tamil people in this election.

TNA MP for the Jaffna district N. Sri Kantha told Daily Mirror that unlike in 2005, there would not be a boycott of election by the Tamil people.

He said that it should either field a candidate for the upcoming presidential election or support one of the two candidates contesting the presidency under the major parties. 

Mr. Sri Kantha said, “there are two options for us.  One is to field a common candidate under the TNA banner with the support of other Tamil parties.  The other is to choose a candidate among those contesting under the major parties. For that purpose, we have to wait and see who the candidate to be reckoned with is.  There is enough time for it”.

SLFP (Mahajana Wing) MP Mangala Samaraweera said that the proclamation had now been sent, and once the Elections Commissioner gazettes it, the opposition’s stand would be made known to the public.   

Fonseka yesterday told The Island that there was nothing wrong in discussing conditions though some may find fault with such a strategy. Fonseka said that in keeping with his policy, he could discuss with Western People’s Front leader Mano Ganeshan, MP his conditions to facilitate an agreement.

Meanwhile, Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to President Mahinda Rajapaksa told The Island that the President had given the retired General time to stay at the General’s House at Buller’s Road and there was absolutely no truth in accusations that there was a move to ‘throw Gen. Fonseka and his wife out on to the streets’. (Read More)