REFUGEE

Leaders of several opposition political parties have reportedly arrived at a decision to put forward General Sarath Fonseka as the common candidate to contest against President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the next presidential election.

The discussion held at the parliamentary complex on November 4 in relation to this issue had been attended by Leaders of the United National Front Ranil Wickremesinghe, Rauf Hakeem, Mano Ganeshan and Mangala Samaraweera and their decision had been communicated to Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Vijitha Herath of the JVP.

Meanwhile, at the press conference held on November 5 of the United National Front at the parliamentary complex to inform of the decisions arrived at the November 4th discussion, DPF Leader Mano Ganeshan said they planned to pose a challenge to the government by contesting through a joint alliance at the next Presidential election.

He said a representative of General Sarath Fonseka had met with him on the 4th night and that he had inquired fro the General’s stance on the release of IDPs in camps, the current corrupt administration and the political settlement for the ethnic issue. He observed that the General was no longer with the government and that the government was left with former LTTE colonels and bodyguards. He added that were waiting for the General to state his stance and make a decision.

When inquired by us, Mano Gnaeshan said a political change that would spark a great deal of discussion would take place during the next few days.

Although General Fonseka was informed of the President’s request to meet with him as soon as he landed in the island during the early hours of Thursday (5), the General had declined the request and traveled directly to his residence saying he needed to rest. However, at the time of going to press, it was still uncertain if the General was to meet with the President in the evening.

Meanwhile, at a discussion organized at Western Provincial Councilor A.J.M. Muzammil’s residence on the 4th Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe responding to a question on General Fonseka becoming the common candidate at the next presidential election had said, “We will some how initiate our programme.”

While it is stated that General Sarath Fonseka is faced with a problem of renewing his Green Card given his decision to leave the US without attending the interview, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had also arrived in the country a month back after facing an interrogation by the US authorities. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and his brother Basil Rajapaksa are US citizens