Lanka’s split opposition comes under one platform for Fonseka

Sri Lanka's tattered coalition found a rallying point here as its leaders came together in support of detained former Army chief Sarath Fonseka.

Sri Lanka’s tattered coalition found a rallying point here as its leaders came together in support of detained former Army chief Sarath Fonseka,and indicated a possibility of a post parliamentary election understanding.

The opposition political parties,who fielded Fonseka against Mahinda Rajapaksa in the presidential polls,have decided to go it alone in the upcoming parliamentary polls but have jointly expressed solidarity with him.

The opposition leaders backed Fonseka’s wife Anoma,last evening at a meeting to discuss his arrest and expected trial,as she expressed concern over the “conditions in the country”.

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“We are living in a country where we don’t have freedom of speech… Not only we have freedom of expression violated,we have to listen to foul language and incorrect facts used by those in government. That is what they have ordered,” an emotional Anoma said here.

Fonseka’s former spokesman Mangala Samaraweera said there was need to engage in broad discussions to face challenges.

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) has formed its own alliance,and so far Samaraweera,Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) led by Rauff Hakeem and Mano Ganeshan led Democratic People’s Front (DPF) have agreed to contest the parliamentary election under the UNP’s Elephant symbol.

The JVP has formed a new political front,the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) under Fonseka’s leadership.

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The leaders have however indicated they are open to a post election understanding in parliament.

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