Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka’s former Army chief known for his role in defeating the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), has officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming Presidential election. The election is set to be held between September 17 and October 16, with the exact date to be revealed on Friday.
In his announcement on X (formerly Twitter), Fonseka expressed his determination to tackle corruption and revitalise the economy. “For 76 years, we have been led by an inept political group that has driven us to bankruptcy,” Fonseka stated. He emphasized the need to eliminate corruption and leverage Sri Lanka’s 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,” he added.
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka Will Contest for President at Forthcoming Election;EX-Army chief says “This is my formal&official announcement as the presidential candidate of Sri Lanka for the 2024 Presidential Election” in Message Posted on “X (twitter)https://t.co/N6JqGHbqgu pic.twitter.com/1kooxwaVCm
— D.B.S.JEYARAJ (@dbsjeyaraj) July 25, 2024
Fonseka promised to publish a policy statement soon and invited suggestions from the public. “We are open to ideas and will uphold the principles of inclusive governance and inclusive leadership,” he said. Fonseka called upon all Sri Lankans to join him in creating a corruption-free nation.
Fonseka previously led the military campaign against the LTTE’s separatist ambitions and ran for president in 2010, where Mahinda Rajapaksa defeated him. Despite this past challenge, the 73-year-old Fonseka remains undeterred and is gearing up for another presidential attempt.
The upcoming election is drawing significant attention, with several prominent leaders announcing their candidacy. Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe emphasized the election’s critical importance for the nation’s future and confirmed his participation. Opposition leaders Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Marxist JVP leader, have also declared their candidacy. Additionally, the current President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be seeking re-election.
The Elections Commission has stated it will soon announce the election date. They clarified that they are not responsible for statements made by various parties regarding the polling day, as reported by the Daily Mirror newspaper.
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This upcoming election promises to be a significant event in Sri Lanka’s political landscape, with multiple candidates vying for the presidency and the future direction of the nation at stake.
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