Foseka’s plan for a “Grand Return” flops

Two meetings cancelled due to poor turnout 

( May 22, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (21 May) pardoned former presidential candidate and army chief Sarath Fonseka who was imprisoned for various charges including betrayal against his own soldiers, frauds and misconduct.

Sarath Fonseka who had led the army under the leadership of President Rajapaksa during 2006-2009 war against the Tamil Tigers attempted to overthrow his Commander in Chief exploiting the monumental war victory that freed the country from terrorism.

Fonseka spurred by his former enemies during the war time including Tamil Tiger sympathizers even went to the extent of betraying his comrades. He fabricated blatant lies about the conduct of war giving the birth to what was known as the “white flag” controversy. This ultimately brought speculative war crime charges against the valiant soldier who fought the battle for the country.

After his release the bankrupted politicians seeking a political bailout through Fonseka’s former popularity as a war hero, were quick to cash in the Presidential pardon to their advantage. The JVP, DNA remnants and some UNP dissidents planned for three political meetings at Kotte Nagaviharya, Kelaniya Raja Maha Viaharaya and in front of the Welikada prison this evening.

However, the intended “Grand Return” flopped due to the weak turnout compelling the organizer to cancel two meetings at Kotte and Kelaniya. Even after a massive propaganda campaign launched by former pro Terrorist media in support of the rallies , only a couple of hundred supporters attended for the Welikada meeting.

Fonseka addressing the crowed briefly renewed his mission to overthrow President Mahinda Rajapaksa who pardoned him and brought him the war hero status by providing correct political leadership to the war against terror in Sri Lanka.

Sarath Fonseka was appointed as the Commander of the Army by President Mahinda Rajapaksa just 10 days prior to his retirement date. Unless this appointment was made, Fonseka too would have retired as an ordinary military officer 7 years ago. His ungratefulness to his Commander in Chief was responded by the public condemning him to the worst ever political fool in the presidential election history in Sri Lanka. Fonskea’s ungratefulness reinforced with his fanatic insolent behavior during the campaign earned him the lowest percentage of votes ever to obtain by a presidential candidate in Sri Lanka.