Colombo – Sri Lanka's main opposition party Thursday decided to back a former army commander who spearheaded the military campaign against Tamil rebels in the next presidential elections. The opposition United National Party (UNP) led by former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told a news conference in Colombo that the party will support ex-army commander General Sarath Fonseka.
"We will be considering this election as a referendum to oust President [Mahinda] Rajapaksa and his family from power and thereafter call for parliamentary elections," Wickremesinghe said.
Fonseka, 58, who served as army commander for four years was directedto retire from his post two weeks the defeat of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May, ending a 26-year civil war. He was later named chief of defence staff, a largely ceremonial post.
Fonseka retired from that position earlier this month and said he planned to enter politics. So far, he has not confirmed his intention to challenge Rajapaksa.
The general is widely credited for the defeat of the Tamil Tigers and poses the most serious challenge in Rajapaksa's bid for re-election.
The ex-Army commander is also backed by the opposition Marxist JVP party as well 11 smaller parties.
Rajapaksa called for presidential elections two years ahead of schedule claiming that he wanted to obtain a fresh mandate mainly from the minority Tamils who were not able to vote properly in the 2005 elections which was boycotted by the rebels.
The election date is still to be officially announced, but is likely to be held on January 23.
