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Sarath Fonseka Politician

General Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc (known as Sarath Fonseka) (Sinhala: සරත් ෆොන්සේකා, Tamil: சரத் பொன்சேகா, born 18 December 1950) is a Sri Lankan politician and former General in the Sri Lanka Army. He was the former Commander of Sri Lanka Army, when he played an integral role in ending the 26-year Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, defeating the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and briefly served as the Chief of Defence Staff. After retiring 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. He lost his parliamentary seat after he was sentenced to serve a three year prison sentence by a military court which convicted him of irregularities in army procurements. 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. Fonseka joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1970 and saw extensive action throughout the 26-year civil war, culminating in a term as Commander of the Army from 6 December 2005 – 15 July 2009. 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 organisation. He also survived an assassination attempt when an LTTE suicide bomber attacked his motorcade in April 2006. 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. He has been described as Sri Lanka's most successful army commander.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. 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." He was found guilty of corrupt military supply deals and sentenced to three years in prison.After serving more than 2 years in prison, Fonseka was released on 21 May 2012. 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 the 22nd of January 2015, restoring his Civic Rights.

Personal facts

Birth date	December 18, 1950
Birth place	Sri Lanka , Southern Province Sri Lanka , Ambalangoda , Dominion of Ceylon
Nationality	Sri Lanka
Religion	Theravada
Education	Ananda College Ampara
Spouse	Anoma Fonseka

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