Sri Lanka Elections Department to announce the replacement for former Army commander's parliamentary seat

Sri Lanka's Elections Department has said the name of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) member to fill the vacant parliamentary seat of former Army Commander and DNA Leader Sarath Fonseka would be gazetted today.

Additional Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya told the media today that the name of a well-known tele drama actor and DNA Colombo District member Jayantha Ketagoda would be gazetted as the person to fill the vacant DNA seat in parliament.

Fonseka's parliamentary seat fell vacant due to his imprisonment following a court martial verdict.

JVP member Lakshman Nipunarachchi was first named as the replacement to fill the vacant DNA seat. However, Nipunarachchi did not take oaths saying the position belonged to Fonseka.

Ketagoda was elected to the parliament in 2001 under the United National Party (UNP) banner for Kaduwela Electorate. He joined the DNA during the 2010 Presidential elections to support the common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka.