Sarath Fonseka

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka MP, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc
Fonseka in a Press Conference.
Leader of the Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 April 2013
Preceded by	Office Created
Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament for National List
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 February 2016
Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament for Colombo District
In office 22 April 2010 – 7 October 2010
Chief of the Sri Lankan Defence Staff
In office 15 July 2009 – 30 November 2009
Preceded by	Donald Perera
Succeeded by	Roshan Goonetileke
Commander of the Sri Lanka Army
In office 6 December 2005 – 15 July 2009
Preceded by	Shantha Kottegoda
Succeeded by	Jagath Jayasuriya
Personal details
Born	Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka (1950-12-18) 18 December 1950 Ambalangoda, Southern Province, Dominion of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	Democratic Party (2013 - Present) Democratic National Alliance (2010 - 2013) New Democratic Front (2009–2010) [N 1]
Other political affiliations	United National Front for Good Governance (2016 - Present)
Spouse(s)	Anoma Fonseka
Children	Aparna and Apsara
Alma mater	Madawalalanda Maha Vidyalaya, Ampara Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda Ananda College, Colombo
Occupation	Politician Military Officer
Religion	Theravada Buddhism
Military service
Allegiance	Sri Lanka
Service/branch	Sri Lanka Army
Years of service	1970–2009, 2015–Present
Rank	Field Marshal
Unit	Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Commands	18th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army
Battles/wars	Sri Lankan Civil War, Insurrection 1987–89
Awards	Rana Wickrama Padakkama Rana Sura Padakkama Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya Uttama Seva Padakkama

Field Marshal Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc (Sarath Fonseka) (Sinhalese: ෆීල්ඩ් මාෂල් සරත් ෆොන්සේකා, Tamil: சரத் பொன்சேகா, born 18 December 1950) is a Sri Lankan military leader who was the first Sri Lankan Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.^[1] He was the eighteenth Commander of Sri Lankan Army, under his command Sri Lankan forces ended the 26-year Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, defeating the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and he thereafter briefly served as the Chief of Defence Staff.^[2] After retiring from the Army with the rank of General, he entered politics as the common opposition candidate in the 2010 Presidential election contesting against President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Following his controversial defeat in the presidential election he was elected to Parliament in the general election that followed. Soon after he lost his parliamentary seat and was made a political prisoner.^[3][4][5] Fonseka supported Maithripala Sirisena in the 2015 Presidential election and following his victory, the newly appointed President Sirisena gave Fonseka a full pardon reinstating his civic rights, rank and decorations. Later he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal on 22 March 2015.^[6][7]

Fonseka joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1970 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1971 and rose through the ranks while completing training stints across South Asia and in the United States and the United Kingdom. He saw extensive action throughout the 26-year civil war and over the years acquired a reputation as a tough battlefield commander and was often in the thick of the action in fighting against the Tamil Tigers, culminating in a term as Commander of the Army from 6 December 2005 – 15 July 2009.^[8][9][10] As commander, he oversaw the final phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War, which resulted in the total defeat of the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. He also survived an assassination attempt when an LTTE suicide bomber attacked his motorcade in April 2006.^[11][12][13] Following the end of the war Fonseka was promoted to a four star rank in the Sri Lanka Army, becoming the first serving officer to hold a four star rank.^[14][15] He has been described as Sri Lanka's most successful army commander.^{[5][16][17][18]}

A few months after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, Fonseka was appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. While his new post was of a higher rank, Fonseka saw the move as an attempt to sideline him. Amid rumours of his desire to enter politics, he subsequently retired from the post on 16 November 2009.^[19][20] On 29 November 2009, Fonseka formally announced his candidature in the 2010 Sri Lankan Presidential Election. His candidacy was endorsed by the main opposition parties, and Fonseka became the main opposition candidate challenging President Rajapaksa. He campaigned under the sign of a swan, and the slogan Vishvasaniya Venasak (A Credible Change).

Following his election defeat, Fonseka was arrested on 8 February 2010, and the government announced he will be court-martialed for committing "military offences".^[21][22] He was convicted for corrupt military supply deals and sentenced to three years in prison.^[23] After serving more than 2 years in prison, Fonseka was released amidst local and international pressure on 21 May 2012.^[7][24] As per the pre-election statement, President Maithripala Sirisena, gave him the Complete Presidential Pardon and acquitted him of all the charges against him on 22 January 2015, restoring his Civic Rights.^[25][26]

Early life

Fonseka was born on 18 December 1950 in the coastal town of Ambalangoda in the south of Sri Lanka. His father was Peter Fonseka, a school principal and his mother Piyawathie Fonseka was a teacher. He initially attended Madawalalanda Maha Vidyalaya (1955–1957) in Ampara,^[27] later receiving his secondary education from Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda (1958–1965) and Ananda College, Colombo (1966–1969). Fonseka represented his alma mater in cadeting, swimming and water polo events. He was the college swimming and water polo captain in 1969 and later represented the defence services and the country in these sports.^[2] His interest in cadeting inspired him to join the Army.^[28][29]

Military career

Early years

Fonseka joined the Ceylon Army on 5 February 1970 as a cadet officer and after completing his basic officer training at the Army Training Centre in Diyatalawa, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Ceylon Sinha Regiment on 1 June 1971 during the 1971 Insurrection.^[10]

Serving with as platoon commander in the Sinha Regiment, he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1973 and was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1976. During this time he underwent the Commando Officers Course (1973), Battalion Support Weapons Course (1976) and Counter Insurgency Jungle Warfare Course (1978) in India. In 1980 he was promoted to the rank of Major and in 1981 he attend the Company Commanders Course in Pakistan. In the next few years he served as an instructor at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Ampara Combat Training School and Infantry Training Centre, and later as the Chief Instructor, Deputy Commandant in the same training institutes.^[10]

Eelam War I

In 1987, he graduated from Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur in Bangladesh. On his return was appointed Commanding Officer, 4th Sri Lanka Light Infantry and participated in the Vadamarachchi Operation.^[30][31][32] The following year he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer, 1 Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment in 1989.

With the on set of the 1987–89 JVP Insurrection, he was appointed as military coordinating officer for Gampaha District.^[10] Fonseka reputedly devised the plan which led to the capture of Premakumar Gunaratnam and gained a reputation for his humane treatment of prisoners of war.^[33]

Eelam War II

In 1991, he was promoted to Colonel and served as a brigade commander, 3rd brigade during Operation Balavegaya and went on record as one of the most distinguished and exceptional one in his capacity as a Brigade Commander. In the First Battle of Elephant Pass, the Sri Lankan armed forces were able to beat back the LTTE owing to the tenacity of the besieged troops led by Fonseka and the grit with which they held on despite the overwhelming odds.^[8] Thereafter he was appointed as Center Commandant, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment at Ambepussa and next served as Staff Officer I at the Directorate of Operations at the Army Headquarters.

In 1993, the Jaffna Fort was under siege by Tamil Tiger rebels. Then Colonel Fonseka led troops in the daring Midnight Express operation to relieve besieged troops. Several hundred soldiers were saved due to the operation. Colonel Fonseka was wounded that year in the Yaldevi operation, having been shot through the lung. At the time Fonseka was General Officer Commanding, 23 Division. After recovering, he was promoted to Brigadier in December 1993 and was appointed to the Operational Headquarters in Colombo.^[10]

Eelam War III

Brigadier Fonseka was soon deployed to operational areas serving as Commander - Area Headquarters, Mannar; General Officer Commanding, 5 Division in Mannar; General Officer Commanding, 21 Division; Deputy Commander, Task Force I; General Officer Commanding, 3 Division in Batticaloa; General Officer Commanding, 27 Division in Kilinochchi; Coordinating Officer for Kayts and Mandattivu, Deputy General Officer Commanding, 51 Division in Jaffna, General Officer Commanding, 23 Division in Polonnaruwa; Overlooking General Officer Commanding Vavuniya Task Force - 2; General Officer Commanding, 55 Division at Mirusuvil.

In 1995 Gen Fonseka won widespread plaudits for his role in Operation Riviresa - the army's operation to capture Jaffna town from the Tamil Tigers.^[29] He played a major role in Operation Jayasikurui.^[10] In 1998, he was promoted to the rank of Major General. He was appointed Colonel of the Regiment of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment. Serving as General Officer Commanding, 22 Division and Director General, General Staff at the Army Headquarters.

In 2000, with the imminent fall of Elephant Pass, Major General Fonseka was rushed in as Commander, Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna and successfully defended the Jaffna peninsula from the massive offensive Operation Unceasing Waves III lunched by the LTTE.^[8][9][34] Thereafter he served as Commander, Security Force Headquarters - Wanni. From May 2002 to November 2003 after he was again appointed the Commander, Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna, Fonseka strengthened the defences of Jaffna overlooking his own future in the army^{[9][29][34][35][36]} and launched a ground-breaking training programme for the infantry.^[37][38][39]

Thereafter he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London and on his return he was appointed Commandant, Defence Services Command and Staff College.^[10] In 2003, he was appointed Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force and in 2004 he was appointed Director Infantry, Deputy Chief of Staff and the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. In 2005 he was appointed Commander of the Army and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General^[37]

Suicide bomb attack

On 25 April 2006, Lt. General Fonseka survived an LTTE suicide bomb attack by a pregnant LTTE operative named Anoja Kugenthirarasah who infiltrated Army Headquarters by attending the regular maternity clinic provided for civilians at the military hospital.^[13][40][41] Fonseka was seriously injured in the attack, and nine others were killed.^[11] The General was rushed to the Colombo General Hospital within minutes. This had been possible because the attack took place next to the Army Hospital and therefore an ambulance was at hand. Fonseka was conscious upon admittance and had communicated with his officers and the doctors. The Commander, who was unconscious after the operation, was put on a ventilator and regained conscious on 30 April 2006.^[12] He was later transferred to the military hospital at Army Headquarters and subsequently flown to Singapore for medical treatment.^[42]

Eelam War IV

After recovering from his injuries, the General resumed his duties in July 2006.^[42][43] Fonseka has been described as the mastermind of the military strategy behind the military victory in Sri Lanka’s three-decade war against terrorism.^{[5][17][18][44][45]} He abandoned conventional methods, matched the ingenious tactics and strategies of the LTTE, fully utilized the superior numerical strength and fire power of the armed forces and kept up pressure on the enemy. He broke tradition by insisting on the full deployment of naval and air power to aid the war on land and succeeded in getting the support of the other service commanders.^[17][46]

Fonseka broke army units into small groups and made these highly trained and motivated men infiltrate Tiger-held areas, track down the fighting cadres of the LTTE and eliminate them.^[9][44] He transformed the Lankan army from a defensive outfit to an offence force.^[7][17] Along with his proactive military leadership, the battle-hardened commander changed military strategy in preparations before the war such as changing the training and ethos of the infantry^[37][38][39] and preparing the defences in the north.^{[1][6][34][35]} He empowered the frontline soldier, breaking the norms of conventional military attitude.^[17][38] In 2007, Fonseka introduced the Mechanized Infantry Regiment.^[47][48][49]

Fonseka changed the reactionary nature of the Army and formulated a plan that would end the war in a time frame of three years.^[50] The aim was shifted from capturing ground to destroying the enemy.^[39][51] He reduced operations conducted along the main roads and expanded the battlefront in order to disperse the enemy manpower and firepower. To this end he devised the strategy of introducing large numbers of four-man teams to the theater of war, there by reducing military and civilian casualties through dispersion, stealth and precision in operations^[17][38][52] and fought the war on multiple fronts.^[39][51] He inaugurated the northern campaign before the conclusion of the eastern campaign, thereby making it difficult for political intrusion to halt the war.^{[53][54][55][56][57]}

Defying the famous advice of Chinese General and military strategist Sun Tzu, General Fonseka opted instead to attack the LTTE’s strongest areas. The commander also opted for performance over seniority and selected officers with experience in the field.^[37][51] He restructured the Army Intelligence Units which proved vital for the Navy and the Air Force to destroy LTTE ships, commanders and other targets.^[17][51] Fonseka implemented strong measures to improve the discipline in the army, eradicate corruption and wastage. He also reduced the burden on the government and the citizen by the effective management of the resources at his disposal and personally ensured the unimpeded supply of ammunition.^[17][51][58] On January 2009, he was described as the best army commander in the world by India's National Security Advisor.^[3][9][17]

Defeat of the LTTE

On 18 May 2009, the Sri Lankan military completely defeated the LTTE after 26 years of civil war.^[59] Foneseka played a key role as Commander of the Army, and is considered as a national hero by the majority of Sri Lankans due to this achievement.^[60][61]

Chief of Defence staff

Fonseka was appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by President Rajapaksa effective 15 July 2009. He was the first person appointed CDS under the newly approved Chief of Defence Staff Act, which was supposed to give the CDS more responsibilities in co-ordinating the armed forces.^[2][62]

Retirement

Fonseka officially handed over his letter of resignation to the President through the Defence secretary on 12 November 2009. He requested to serve as CDS until the end of the month, He resigned from that post to compete as a candidate for the presidential election which was held in January 2010. He left office on 16 November 2009,^[63] President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed Air Force Chief Roshan Goonatilake to succeed Fonseka on 16 November 2009.

Political career

Post-war politics

There were newspaper reports published about Fonseka entering politics after the war victory, beginning in August 2009. One of the articles explains it as follows, "General Fonseka launches political campaign – I will make a supreme sacrifice to defend my land against the politicos who ever they may be joining hands with India. Now we have a daunting task to protect our motherland from India".^[64] Gen. Fonseka entering politics was a debate even during the war against LTTE.^[65]

Presidential candidate

Fonseka was installed as the common candidate by a coalition of political parties consisting mainly of the United National Party and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and had the support of former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. General Fonseka however declared himself as a non-party candidate.

Immediately after declaration that Fonseka was ready for candidacy, President Rajapakse called for new presidential election two years before expiration of his term.^[66]

Fonseka, UNP and JVP led a strong campaign against President Rajapakse. They claimed that Fonseka was the real hero who won the war against LTTE and a Fonseka government was ready for good governance along with the support of all the minorities, eliminate prevailing corruption under Mahinda Rajapaka government and also promised a massive salary increase for public servants which had been denied thus far. They also promised to change the constitution to remove executive powers from the presidency and transfer such powers to the parliament. Further they promised to establish the 17 amendment to authorise independent commissions as a measure to counter the ongoing mishandling of public money.^[67][68]

Fonseka suffered a number of setbacks in his election campaign. In December 2009, A news item was published in local newspaper "Sunday Leader" quoting Sarath Fonseka saying that during the final few days of the war against LTTE, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse (who is a brother of the President) gave orders to the army senior officers to execute three LTTE cadres who surrendered to the Army.^[69] Due to the massive publicity given in the state media, this statement was taken by the whole country as betrayal of army officers by the retired army commander himself.^[70] Although General Fonseka later issued a statement saying that his original statement has been published by the Sunday Leader out of context, many analysts say that Fonseka lost the election from that moment.^[71]

Meanwhile, in the next attempt government put some evidence before public that General Fonseka was corrupt while he was the commander of the Sri Lanka Army. There was evidence that he removed the tender board chairman from the office and he himself became the chairman only to offer all the tenders to a company owned by his son-in-law. Adding fuel to the fire, one of his close friends living in Oklahoma USA "Upul Illangamge" spilled the beans^[72] by disclosing to the media in a press conference how the company was formed, registered in USA and Fonseka's son-in-law sold 3 million rupees worth equipment necessary for the war during the final three years of the war. Fonseka claimed that the company referred in the accusation has no connection to his son-in-law's company although both companies share one name: Hicorp. But this allegation was on all public & state media supporting the government day and night and it had been used as a mean of discredit his reputation and attempts were also made to label him as a traitor by key spokespeople in the government.

Then the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), a party loyal to LTTE, agreed to support Sarath Fonseka^[73] in the Presidential Election after having several discussions with both Mahinda Rajapakse and General Sarath Fonseka. Then government disclosed a secret agreement between TNA and General Fonseka^[74] in which Fonseka had promised merger of North and East provinces and an autonomous status for Tamils in return for the support of the north and east Tamil population in the Presidential election. However opposition leaders proved that the agreement was a fake one with fake signatures adapted by another resources. But some Sinhalese reacted with anger to this agreement since the army fought 30-year-old bloody war against LTTE only to reject similar autonomous state "Ealam" claimed by the LTTE. Also the opposition revealed a secret written agreement between Mahinda Rajapaksa and EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda who was a Tamil politician faithful to Rajapakse.^[75]

Sarath Fonseka however sincerely expected that he was set for a massive win on 26 January 2010. He booked 70 rooms of a five star hotel some hundred metres away from the President's House for the night of 26 January 2010. Medias citing Sri Lankan military reported that a large number (about 400) of deserted army soldiers spent the night with General Fonseka at the hotel to enjoy the election results. Fonseka camp stated that there may be about 400 people in the hotel but are the leaders of parties supporting the common opposition candidate, and did not consist of any army deserters.^[76]

Election results were released by the election commissioner electorate by electorate in the morning of 27 January 2010.

Post Presidential Election 2010

Sarath Fonseka refused to accept the election results published by the Election Commissioner.^[77][78] He also said he would consider legal action but did not indicate against whom. There are reports that say Sarath Fonseka is making every possible attempt to leave the country^[79] as early as possible quoting him saying "I cannot even leave the country, Rajapakse has blacklisted my passport along with my family, including my daughters' who are still studying in USA". Some newspapers reported that he is seeking asylum in Australia, UK or India. Meanwhile, BBC announced that Gotabaya Rajapakse is intending to take legal action against Sarath Fonseka for leaking top secret government information. Later he stated in a press conference that he does not intend to leave the country, rather would stay with the people who voted him to see the justice is established.

On 28 January 2010 CID began its new investigations on claims made by several ministers of Rajapakse government that Fonseka was planning a coup to remove Rajapakse^[80] in case of close election results on 26 January in connection with this investigation, a media institution "Lanka" run by JVP who helped Fonseka during presidential election was sealed on 30 January 2010 by the CID with a court order. Within few days the court accepted the appeal and ordered CID to re-open the office.^[81] Sri Lanka Army arrested Sarath Fonseka for committing military offences on 8 February 2010.

Arrest, sentence and release

It was alleged that Fonseka became a political prisoner after running for presidential election against the current president Mahinda Rajapaksa.^[82] He was arrested at his office in Colombo on 8 February 2010 by Military Police,^[22][83] and taken into military custody. The military announced he will be court-martialed for "committing military offences" during his time as Chief of Defense Staff.^[84] Military stated that he will be charged according to the SL ARMY ACT, Section 57(1). The military tribunal in which the case was heard was challenged on multiple issues including the suitability and qualifications of the judges and the hearing of the case during an official holiday period of lawyers (9 August to 13th, 2010), and his lawyers were not present. Furthermore, because the witnesses were summoned during the aforementioned period, the lawyers of the accused never had a chance to interrogate the witnesses. Amidst all these issues, the panel of judges of General Court Martial which included Major General A.L.R. Weeratunga, Major General Lalith Wijetunga and Major General Bhatiya Jayatilleke found Fonseka guilty of the charges. Sentenced to 30 months after the court martial in 2010 convicted him of irregularities in army procurements. In August 2010, by proclamation from President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces he was cashiered from the army having been stripped of his rank, medals and decorations. His military pension was forfeited.^[85]

On November 2011 Fonseka was sentenced to three years in jail and fined Rs. 5000 in a two-one split verdict delivered in the white flag case with two judges finding him guilty on one of the charges while one of the judges acquitted him on all three charges.^[86][87][88]

In March 2012, he was acquitted by Judge Sunil Rajapaksa of the High Court of Colombo of Fraud Charges in the case known as the "Hi-Corp Case" upholding the objections raised by his Counsel that the charges in the High Court and the Court Martial were substantially the same and that he cannot be sentenced twice on the same offense. However one more case continues against him in respect of an allegation that he harboured deserters during the Presidential Election Campaign

General Election 2010

Sarath Fonseka, Leader of Democratic National Alliance, obtained over 98,000 votes only in Colombo District. It is the 2nd highest individual vote obtaining percentage ever in the Election, 89.0%. His party was placed 3rd in the district with 110,683 votes (11.78%).^[89] General Sarath Fonseka was a Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament, until he was sentenced to serve a two and half-year prison sentence which made him unable to continue his membership in the chamber according to the Sri Lankan Constitution. However, he requested the Court of Appeal to issue writs against the cashiering, prison sentence and removal from parliament. The petition on the prison sentence was rejected in December 2011 and he appealed to the Supreme Court in January 2012. Other two petitions are still being heard in the Court of Appeal.

Post sentence politics

A midst local and international pressure president Mahinda Rajapaksa signed the order documents for the release of Fonseka during May 2012.^{[7][24][90][91][92]}

On September 2012, DNA MP Tiran Alles resigned from the post of Secretary of the Democratic National Party headed by Sarath Fonseka. Alles was in the media spotlight as he held several rounds of discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to secure the release of Sarath Fonseka.^[93] On October 2012, National Bhikku Front and DNA called for a movement for abolition of the executive presidency under the joint leadership of UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya and Fonseka. Despite the fact that Jayasuriya requested the permission,^[94] United National Party leadership ordered its members to boycott the rally which was scheduled to be held at Hyde Park Colombo.^[95][96] Also in the same month, party deputy leader Arjuna Ranatunga resigned from the party.^[97][98]

Presidential Election 2015

In November 2012, party chairman Jayantha Ketagoda resigned from the position.^[99] Fonseka extended his support to Maithripala Sirisena in the Sri Lankan presidential election, 2015 and he was given a complete Presidential Pardon and acquitted of all charges on 22 January 2015, restoring his civic rights. The pardon restored his military rank and decorations as well as his pension. He requested reinstatement of his parliamentary seat which was taken by a member of his party after he lost it due to his conviction.^[100][101]

Field Marshal

In March 2015, it was announced that General Fonseka would be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, which was carried out on 22 March 2015 by President Maithripala Sirisena.^[1][102]

General Election 2015

Field Marshal Fonseka, contested the 2015 General Election from his Democratic National Alliance from Colombo district, however he was not elected neither was his party able to secure a seat during the election.^[103]

UNP Allies 2016

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka signed a collective agreement with Sri Lanka’s ruling United National Party (UNP) with the Democratic Party (DP) The MoU was signed by Fonseka as the leader of the Democratic Party and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the UNP leader. The two leaders exchanged agreements for the Democratic Party to join the United National Front (UNF), the coalition led by the UNP.^[22][104]

On the 9 February he took oath as a Member of Parliament for the seat vacated by the death of M. K. A. D. S. Gunawardana.^[105][106]

Awards

His awards and decorations included the Gallantry Medals; Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP), distinguished service medals; Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV), Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) and other notable medal campaign medals; Riviresa Campaign Services Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, North and East Operations Medal, Desha Putra Sammanaya and several others.

Sri Lankan awards

In Order of Precedence

•   Rana Wickrama Padakkama
•   Rana Sura Padakkama
•   Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
•   Uttama Seva Padakkama
•   Desha Putra Sammanaya
•   Purna Bhumi Padakkama
•   North and East Operations Medal
•   Riviresa Campaign Services Medal

Personal life

Sarath Fonseka is married to Anoma Indumathi Munasinghe, daughter of D.J.and Eugine Munasinghe of Dematagoda, and has two daughters Aparna & Apsara.^[107]

See also

• Eelam War IV
• Sri Lankan civil war
• Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)
• Chief of Defence Staff
• White Flag case

References

External links

Official sites

• General Fonseka's Official Website
• New Democratic Front Official Website

News media

• All for the love of a soldier
• Picture Gallery
• Fonseka appointed new Chief of Defence Staff

Audio

• General Fonseka spells out his political ambitions
• General Fonseka speaks about the “corrupt people

Interactive

• Timeline of Sarath Fonseka

Military offices
Preceded by Shantha Kottegoda	Commander of the Sri Lankan Army 6 December 2005 – 15 July 2009	Succeeded by Jagath Jayasuriya
Preceded by Donald Perera	Chief of Defence Staff 2009 – 15 November 2009	Succeeded by Roshan Goonatilake

Commanders of the Sri Lankan Army 1 Sinclair 2 Reid 3 Muttukumaru 4 Wijeyekoon 5 Udugama 6 Heyn 7 Attygalle 8 Perera 9 Weeratunga 10 Seneviratne 11 Wanasinghe 12 Waidyaratne 13 De Silva 14 Daluwatte 15 Weerasooriya 16 Balagalle 17 Kottegoda 18 Fonseka 19 Jayasuriya 20 Ratnayake 21 De Silva

Sri Lankan Civil War Origins Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism 1956 1958 1977 Sri Lankan riots Burning of Jaffna library Black July Combatants  Sri Lanka Army (LRRP) Navy Air Force Police Special Task Force Home Guards Attacks on civilians Assassinations LTTE Divisions Air Tigers Sea Tigers Black Tigers Attacks in the 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Assassinations Suicide bombings Other militants (list) ENDLF ENLF EPRLF EROS PLOTE TELO  India Indian Peace Keeping Force Paramilitary EPDP TMVP Phases Eelam War I Indian intervention Eelam War II III IV Eastern / Northern theaters Major battles Kokkilai Vadamarachchi Poomalai Pawan Jaffna University Helidrop Balavegaya 1st Elephant Pass Pooneryn Riviresa 1st Mullaitivu Sath Jaya Vavunathivu Jayasikurui Thandikulam–Omanthai 1st Kilinochchi Oddusuddan A-9 highway 2nd Elephant Pass Bandaranaike Airport attack Point Pedro Jaffna Thoppigala Vidattaltivu 2nd Kilinochchi 2nd Mullaitivu Puthukkudiyirippu Major Events Air Lanka Flight 512 Indo-Sri Lanka Accord Expulsions from Northern province Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination of Ranasinghe Premadasa Assassination of Lalith Athulathmudali Temple of the Tooth attack Lionair Flight 602 Bandaranaike Airport attack Expulsions from Colombo 2009 suicide air raid on Colombo Leaders Sri Lanka Military Army Tissa Weeratunga Nalin Seneviratne Hamilton Wanasinghe Cecil Waidyaratne G. H. De Silva Rohan Daluwatte C. S. Weerasooriya L. P. Balagalle Shantha Kottegoda Sarath Fonseka Navy Asoka de Silva H. A. Silva Clancy Fernando D. A. M. R. Samarasekara H. C. A. C. Thisera Daya Sandagiri Wasantha Karannagoda Air Force Dick Perera Andibuduge Fernando Makalandage Gunawardena Oliver Ranasinghe Jayalath Weerakkody Donald Perera Roshan Goonetileke Civilian Junius Richard Jayewardene Ranasinghe Premadasa Dingiri Banda Wijetunga Chandrika Kumaratunga Mahinda Rajapaksa LTTE Militant Velupillai Prabhakaran Pottu Amman Karuna Amman Political Selvarasa Pathmanathan Anton Balasingham S. P. Thamilselvan India Military Harkirat Singh Ashok K. Mehta Civilian R. Venkataraman Rajiv Gandhi V. P. Singh Aftermath Reactions to end of war (Tamil diaspora) Remembrance Day Alleged war crimes Chemical weapons Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) UN Panel on Accountability in Sri Lanka NPC resolution on Genocide Related topics Casualties Assassinations Massacres Child soldiers Disappearances Human rights Popular culture Terrorism PTA State Sixth Amendment Thirteenth Amendment 1988 Maldives coup d'état 1987–89 JVP Insurrection Sri Lankan Civil War at Wiktionary    Source texts at Wikisource    Textbooks at Wikibooks   Images and media at the Commons    Quotations at Wikiquote    News stories at Wikinews

← Members of the 14th Parliament of Sri Lanka (2010 (2010)–2015 (2015)) → Speaker: Chamal Rajapaksa Prime Minister: D. M. Jayaratne/Ranil Wickremasinghe Leader of the Opposition: Ranil Wickremasinghe/Nimal Siripala de Silva Western Colombo Sarath Fonseka A. H. M. Fowzie Praba Ganeshan Mohan Lal Grero Bandula Gunawardane Dinesh Gunawardena Sunil Handunnetti Ravi Karunanayake Jeewan Kumaranatunga Gamini Lokuge Susil Premajayanth Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe Champika Ranawaka Sujeewa Senasinghe Rosy Senanayake Duminda Silva Thilanga Sumathipala Wimal Weerawansa Ranil Wickramasinghe Gampaha Lasantha Alagiyawanna John Amaratunga Pandu Bandaranaike Sudarshani Fernandopulle Sarath Kumara Gunaratne Sarana Gunawardena Vijitha Herath Karu Jayasuriya Jayalath Jayawardena Ajith Mannapperuma Felix Perera Basil Rajapaksa Ruwan Ranatunga Athuraliye Rathana Wasantha Senanayake Mervyn Silva Upeksha Swarnamali Dulip Wijeysekara Ruwan Wijewardene Kalutara Rohitha Abeygunawardena Reginald Cooray Nirmala Kotalawala Ajith Perera Arjuna Ranatunga Mahinda Samarasinghe Rajitha Senaratne Palitha Thewarapperuma Kumara Welgama Vidura Wickremenayake Central Kandy Mahindananda Aluthgamage Dilum Amunugama Sarath Amunugama Abdul Cadar S. B. Dissanayake Rauff Hakeem M. H. A. Haleem Lakshman Kiriella Faiszer Musthapha Keheliya Rambukwella Lohan Ratwatte Eric Prasanna Weerawardena Matale Wasantha Aluwihare Rohana Dissanayake Nandimithra Ekanayake Lakshman Wasantha Perera Janaka Bandara Tennakoon Nuwara Eliya Palani Digambaran Navin Dissanayake Sri Ranga Jeyaratnam Velusami Radhakrishnan Perumal Rajathurai C. B. Rathnayake Arumugam Thondaman Southern Galle Piyasena Gamage Sajin Vass Gunawardena Gayantha Karunathilaka Ajith Kumara Nishantha Muthuhettigamage Manusha Nanayakkara Ramesh Pathirana Mohan De Silva Chandima Weerakkody Gunaratna Weerakoon Matara Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena Wijaya Dahanayake Chandrasiri Gajadeera Hemal Gunasekara Sanath Jayasuriya Buddhika Pathirana Mangala Samaraweera Hambantota Mahinda Amaraweera V. K. Indika Wehella Kankanamge Indika Sajith Premadasa Chamal Rajapaksa Namal Rajapaksa Nirupama Rajapaksa Dilip Wedaarachchi Northern Jaffna Silvestri Alantine Murugesu Chandrakumar Douglas Devananda Vijayakala Maheswaran Suresh Premachandran Eswarapatham Saravanapavan Mavai Senathirajah Sivagnanam Sritharan Appathurai Vinayagamoorthy Vanni Selvam Adaikalanathan Sivasakthy Ananthan Risad Badhiutheen Hunais Farook Muthali Bawa Farook Noordeen Mashoor Vino Noharathalingam Eastern Batticaloa Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanethiran Alim Mohamed Hisbulla Basheer Segu Dawood Pon Selvarasa Seeniththamby Yogeswaran Digamadulla A. L. M. Athaullah P. Dayaratna Cassim Faizal H. M. M. Harees Podiappuhamy Piyasena Sarath Weerasekara Sriyani Wijewickrama Trincomalee Susantha Punchinilame M. K. A. D. S. Gunawardana Rajavarothiam Sampanthan M. S. Thowfeek North Western Kurunegala Ashoka Abeysinghe K. W. Shantha Bandara Indika Bandaranayake Tharanath Basnayaka Salinda Dissanayake T. B. Ekanayake Johnston Fernando Jayarathna Herath Nalin Bandara Jayamaha Dayasiri Jayasekara Akila Viraj Kariyawasam S.B. Nawinne Gamini Jayawickrama Perera Neranjan Wickramasinghe Nimal Wijesinghe Anura Priyadharshana Yapa Puttalam Palitha Range Bandara Arundika Fernando Milroy Fernando Piyankara Jayaratne Niroshan Perera Neomal Perera Victor Anthony Perera Dayasritha Thissera North Central Anuradhapura Chandrani Bandara Jayasinghe S. M. Chandrasena Duminda Dissanayake P. Weerakumara Dissanayake W. B. Ekanayake P. Harrison Tissa Karalliyadde Sarath Chandrasiri Muthukumarana Asanka Shehan Semasinghe Polonnaruwa Earl Gunasekara Roshan Ranasinghe Siripala Gamalath Maithripala Sirisena Jayasinghe Bandara C. A. Suriyaarachchi Uva Badulla Lal Chamika Buddhadasa Nimal Siripala De Silva Harin Fernando Udith Lokubandara Dilan Perera Rohana Pushpakumara Lakshman Senewiratne Amith Thenuka Vidanagamage Monaragala Vijitha Berugoda Sumedha G. Jayasena R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara A. P. Jagath Pushpakumara Gamini Vijith Wijithamuni De Zoysa Sabaragamuwa Ratnapura Thalatha Atukorale Dunesh Gankanda Premalal Jayasekara Vasudeva Nanayakkara Ranjan Ramanayake Sanee Rohana Kodithuvakku W. D. J. Senewiratne Ranjith de Zoysa Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi Janaka Wakkumbura Kegalle Jagath Balasuriya Lalith Dissanayake Kanaka Herath Kabir Hashim H. R. Mithrapala A. D. Champika Premadasa Y. G. Padmasiri Athauda Seneviratne Ranjith Siyambalapitiya National List UPFA Dullas Alahapperuma A.H.M. Asvar Malini Fonseka Achala Jagodage D. M. Jayaratne D. E. W. Gunasekera Gitanjana Gunawardena Ellawala Medhananda Thero Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan G. L. Peiris Janaka Priyantha Bandara Kamala Ranathunga Muthu Sivalingam J. R. P. Suriyapperuma Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Rajiva Wijesinha Tissa Vitharana UNF Hasen Ali M. S. M. Aslam Tissa Attanayake Harsha de Silva Anoma Gamage M. Joseph Michael Perera D. M. Swaminathan Eran Wickramaratne Ramaiah Yogarajan DNA Tiran Alles Anura Kumara Dissanayaka TNA M. A. Sumanthiran

← Members of the 15th Parliament of Sri Lanka (2015 (2015)–Present) → Speaker: Karu Jayasuriya Prime Minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe Leader of the Opposition: R. Sampanthan Central Province (25) Kandy Ananda Aluthgamage Mahindananda Aluthgamage Dilum Amunugama Mayantha Dissanayake Rauff Hakeem M. H. A. Haleem Anuradha Jayaratne Lucky Jayawardena Lakshman Kiriella Keheliya Rambukwella Lohan Ratwatte M. Velu Kumar Matale Ranjith Aluwihare Wasantha Aluwihare Lakshman Wasantha Perera Janaka Bandara Tennakoon R. Wijerathne Nuwara Eliya Palani Digambaran Navin Dissanayake K. K. Piyadhasa Velusami Radhakrishnan C. B. Rathnayake Muthu Sivalingam M. Thilakarajah Arumugam Thondaman Eastern Province (16) Ampara Wimalaweera Dissanayake Cassim Faizal Daya Gamage H. M. M. Harees K. Kodeeswaran Mansoor Ibrahim Sriyani Wijewickrama Batticaloa Ali Ameer Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana G. Sirinesan S. Viyalendiran S. Yogeswaran Trincomalee Imran Maharoof M. A. M. Maharoof Susantha Punchinilame R. Sampanthan Northern Province (13) Jaffna Douglas Devananda Vijayakala Maheswaran E. Saravanapavan Mavai Senathirajah D. Siddarthan S. Sritharan M. A. Sumanthiran Vanni Selvam Adaikalanathan Sivasakthy Ananthan Risad Badhiutheen Cader Cader Masthan Charles Nirmalanathan S. Sivamohan North Central Province (14) Anuradhapura S. M. Chandrasena Duminda Dissanayake Weerakumara Dissanayake Chandima Gamage P. Harrison Abdul Rahuman Izak Chandrani Bandara Jayasinghe Sarath Chandrasiri Muthukumarana Asanka Shehan Semasinghe Polonnaruwa Siripala Gamalath Sidney Jayarathna Nalaka Kolonne Roshan Ranasinghe Wasantha Senanayake North Western Province (23) Kurunegala Ashoka Abeysinghe J. C. Alawathuwala Indika Bandaranayake Tharanath Basnayaka Salinda Dissanayake T. B. Ekanayake Johnston Fernando Thushara Indunil Nalin Bandara Dayasiri Jayasekara Akila Viraj Kariyawasam S. B. Nawinne Gamini Jayawickrama Perera Mahinda Rajapaksa Anura Priyadharshana Yapa Puttalam Shantha Abeysekara Hector Appuhamy Palitha Range Bandara Arundika Fernando Piyankara Jayaratne Sanath Nishantha Niroshan Perera Ashoka Priyantha Sabaragamuwa Province (20) Kegalle Tharaka Balasuriya Kabir Hashim Kanaka Herath Dushmantha Mithrapala Sujith Sanjaya Perera A. D. Champika Premadasa Sandith Samarasinghe Ranjith Siyambalapitiya Thusitha Wijemanne Ratnapura Thalatha Atukorale Thirimadura Ranjith de Soysa Dunesh Gankanda Premalal Jayasekara Vasudeva Nanayakkara Karu Paranawithana John Seneviratne Janaka Wakkumbura Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi A. A. Wijethunga Ankumbura Withanage Southern Province (25) Galle Vajira Abeywardena Bandula Lal Bandarigoda Mohan de Silva Wijepala Hettiarachchi Gayantha Karunathilaka Geetha Kumarasinghe Nishantha Muthuhettigamage Manusha Nanayakkara Ramesh Pathirana Chandima Weerakkody Hambantota Mahinda Amaraweera D. V. Chanaka Nihal Galappaththi Sajith Premadasa Chamal Rajapaksa Namal Rajapaksa Dilip Wedaarachchi Matara Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena Dullas Alahapperuma Chandrasiri Gajadeera Buddhika Pathirana Niroshan Premaratne Sagala Ratnayaka Mangala Samaraweera Kanchana Wijesekera Uva Province (13) Badulla A. Aravind Kumar Chamara Sampath Dassanayake Lakshman Senewiratne Nimal Siripala de Silva Harin Fernando Ravindra Samaraweera Vadivel Suresh Amith Thenuka Vidanagamage Chaminda Wijesiri Monaragala R. M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara Vijitha Berugoda Padma Udayashnatha Gunasekara Sumedha G. Jayasena Ananda Kumarasiri Western Province (47) Colombo Harsha de Silva Anura Kumara Dissanayaka Udaya Gammanpila Mano Ganesan Mohan Lal Grero Bandula Gunawardane Dinesh Gunawardena Ravi Karunanayake Gamini Lokuge Saidulla Marikkar Hirunika Premachandra Susil Premajayanth Mujibur Rahman Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe Champika Ranawaka Sujeewa Senasinghe Wimal Weerawansa Eran Wickramaratne Ranil Wickremesinghe Gampaha Lasantha Alagiyawanna John Amaratunga Indika Anuruddha Sudarshani Fernandopulle Edward Gunasekara Vijitha Herath Sisira Jayakody Kavinda Jayawardena Nimal Lanza Ajith Mannapperuma Harshana Rajakaruna Ranjan Ramanayake Arjuna Ranatunga Prasanna Ranatunga Prasanna Ranaweera Chathura Senarathne Duleep Wijesekera Ruwan Wijewardene Kalutara Rohitha Abeygunawardena H. M. Piyal Nishantha de Silva Ajith Perera S. A. Jayantha Samaraweera Nalinda Jayatissa Rajitha Senaratne Palitha Thewarapperuma Kumara Welgama Vidura Wickremenayake L. A. Wijemanne National List (29) JVP Sunil Handunnetti Sarath Chandrasiri Mayadunne Bimal Rathnayaka TNA Shanthi Sriskantharajah K. Thurairetnasingam UNFGG Sirinal de Mel Anoma Gamage M. K. A. D. S. Gunawardana Sarath Fonseka A. R. A. Hafeez M. S. Thowfeek Karu Jayasuriya Tilak Marapana C. A. Marasinghe M. H. M. Navavi Athuraliye Rathana Thero M. H. M. Salman Malik Samarawickrama D. M. Swaminathan Jayampathy Wickramaratne UPFA Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena Sarath Amunugama S. B. Dissanayake A. H. M. Fowzie M. L. A. M. Hizbullah Malith Jayathilake Faiszer Musthapha Dilan Perera Angajan Ramanathan Mahinda Samarasinghe Gamini Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa Thilanga Sumathipala

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