Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka’s former Army chief known for his decisive role in defeating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election. Fonseka has pledged to tackle corruption and revitalize the economy.
“I wish to announce my candidacy for the presidency to the people of Sri Lanka,” Fonseka said in a post on X. “For 76 years, we have been led by an inept political group that has driven us to bankruptcy. For Sri Lanka to grow, we need to crush corruption. We need to leverage our natural resources to boost income generation. This is my formal and official announcement as the presidential candidate of Sri Lanka for the 2024 presidential election.”
Fonseka, 73, ran unsuccessfully against Mahinda Rajapaksa in the 2010 presidential race.
Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has also thrown his hat into the ring, calling the upcoming election “crucial for the nation’s future.”
The race for the presidency is becoming increasingly competitive, with opposition figures like Sajith Premadasa and Marxist JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake also announcing their candidacies. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe will seek re-election.
The Elections Commission said that it will announce the election date soon, while asserting that it bears no responsibility for statements made by various parties regarding polling day.
(With ANI input)
