Sri Lanka's ex-Army Chief will lose his parliamentary seat, government says

The Sri Lankan government Thursday said that following the President's endorsement of a 30-month jail term for former Army Commander and Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Sarath Fonseka, he would be ineligible with immediate effect to sit as a Member of Parliament.

Cabinet Spokesperson and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the media that according to the Constitution, Fonseka would be deprived of his seat.
Meanwhile, Military Spokesperson Major General Ubaya Medawala has told the media that the sentence would be Rigorous Imprisonment.

Fonseka is expected to be transferred to the Welikada Prison later today and security has been tightened around the prison.
Fonseka is currently held in military detention in the Naval Headquarters.
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today approved the prison sentence given by the second court martial against former Army Commander after finding him guilty of four charges related to alleged irregularities in military procurements during his tenure as Army Chief.