Sri Lanka's airport expressway to be completed by the end of 2012

Sri Lanka's former Army Commander and Democratic National Alliance (DNA) parliamentarian retired General Sarath Fonseka today received permission from Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to go before the parliamentary privileges committee to raise the issues of him being prevented from attending parliament and related activities.

Sri Lanka's detained Army Commander pays tribute to war heroes and civilians

Sri Lanka's former Army Commander and DNA Leader Retired General Sarath Fonseka yesterday (19) paid tribute to the brave war heroes and innocent civilians who made the supreme sacrifice to make the military victory against the LTTE possible.

Fonseka to undertake gruelling tour of Tamil dominated North

In his bid to win hearts and minds of the Tamil electorate, opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka will undertake a gruelling tour of the war- ravaged northern Sri Lanka, a weak spot for him as the former general is considered an architect of victory over the LTTE.
"We are hurriedly making arrangements for Fonseka's rallies in Killinochchi and Mullaitivu on January 4," the Opposition Presidential Candidate’s poll Manager said adding he was hopeful the rallies would go ahead as scheduled.



"In the East, we have planned a meeting (of Fonseka) in Batticaloa town followed by a rally in Ampara town on January 5," he said.



Fonseka in his resignation letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa last month had stated, "There is no clear policy to win the hearts and minds of the Tamil people, which will surely ruin the victory, attained paving the way for yet another uprising in the future."


The victory of Lankan security forces during the Eelam war IV which began in 2006 led to the killing of 23,000 LTTE cadres and injuring another 12,258.



As many as 6000 Sri Lankan security forces personnel also lost their lives besides 23,000 suffering injuries in the war that culminated with the killing of LTTE Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.



Fonseka is scheduled to commerce his painstaking campaign in the North on January 2 by attending a religious ceremony at the historic Nallur Kovil in Jaffna, the campaign manager said.



He said this would be followed by a discussion with Jaffna University students and teachers. Leaders of the Opposition parties including those from the UNP and Tamil Parties are expected to rally strongly around Fonseka to boost his campaign.



They are also expected to speak at the rallies in Northern Sri Lanka to support Fonseka's candidature. The campaign manager said this would be followed by a meeting with Tamil and Muslim businessmen of the Jaffna peninsula.

With just a month left for the crucial Presidential Elections in Sri Lanka the former general plans to tour the region next week.



"Though only over 15,000 Tamil IDPs have registered for voting from the welfare camps and efforts are on to increase it as much as possible, there are lakhs of Tamils voters all over the country," a campaign manager of Fonseka said.



The Opposition United National Party which is backing Fonseka had a history of getting large amount of Tamil votes. The Tamil vote is considered a weak spot for Fonseka as he is considered the architect of the victory over LTTE.
The UNP is sparing no efforts to mobilize a huge crowd for his rally in the Jaffna district. Next Sunday he will move to the Mannar town followed by a meeting at Vavuniya town, the manager said. His schedule on January 6 involves rallies in Muttur and Trincomalee Town.



"Your Excellency’s government has yet to win the peace in spite of the fact that the Army under my leadership won the war," Fonseka has stated in his resignation letter to Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka's main opposition candidate launches presidential campaign from hill country

Kandy: The main opposition candidate retired General Sarath Fonseka commenced his inaugural campaign rally in the sacred city of Kandy today.

General Fonseka in his address to the public vowed to abolish the executive presidency if he was elected to the top post and establish a government accountable to the people.

"I will abolish the executive presidential system and ensure we have a parliament that will be responsible to the people," he said.

Campaigning against the President and his government which includes three of his brothers in powerful positions, the retired General promised to work against corruption and family nepotism.

Sri Lanka Denies Tamil Rebel Leaders Shot While Surrendering

Sri Lanka denied charges by the former army chief that surrendering Tamil rebel leaders were ordered to be shot, saying General Sarath Fonseka is trying to make political gain as a candidate in next year’s presidential election.

Fonseka, who is standing as the main opposition candidate against President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Jan. 26 ballot, has “betrayed the nation” with his comments, Mahinda Samarasinghe, the minister for disaster management and human rights, said late yesterday in Colombo. “The allegation is done to discredit the government for political advantage.”

The general, in an article in the Sunday Leader newspaper, said Defense Minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued orders “not to accommodate” any leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam trying to surrender during the battle with the last rebel forces near the northeastern port of Mullaitivu in May.

The defeat of the LTTE ended its 26-year fight for a separate Tamil homeland in the north and east of the South Asian island nation. Rajapaksa, seeking to capitalize on his government ending the civil war, last month called the presidential election two years before his mandate expires.

Fonseka told the newspaper that three LTTE leaders were shot dead while trying to surrender to government forces as the battle came to an end.

White Flags

Samarasinghe, at a news conference late yesterday, read out a statement Fonseka made in July while serving as army commander that said the army never killed any terrorist leader who surrendered with white flags.

“These two statements of General Fonseka are contradicting each other,” the minister said, adding that several LTTE leaders, including Daya and Charles Master, surrendered with white flags and were looked after.

The general’s statement is part of efforts to destabilize the country, Samarasinghe said. The government is studying whether to take legal action over the newspaper article, he said, according to the Media Center for National Security.

Rajapaksa declared victory over the Tamil Tigers in May after the army killed rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his commanders in the Mullaitivu battle.

The U.S. State Department in October released a congressionally mandated report listing accounts of army shelling of civilians and killings carried out by the LTTE in the final weeks of the war.

Sri Lanka’s government has ordered an investigation into the allegations while saying the report is “unsubstantiated.”

Opposition Candidate

Fonseka, 58, will be the candidate for the opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, or People’s Liberation Front, and the United National Party, in the election. The general, who resigned in November as chief of defense staff, says there have been moves to take the credit for the defeat of the LTTE away from the army.

Rajapaksa, 64, who leads the United People’s Freedom Alliance, has pledged to rebuild a united country after the civil war.

While Sri Lanka in July received a $2.6 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, the end of the conflict has boosted agriculture and tourism.

The central bank forecasts the country’s $41 billion economy will grow as much as 6 percent next year after expanding about 3.5 percent in 2009. Overseas investment in Sri Lanka rose about 10 percent in 2009 from about $3 billion last year, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said last month.

The country’s exports that include tea, rubber, textiles and clothes may start to grow in the first quarter of 2010 after dropping for 10 consecutive months, he said.

Former Commander says Sri Lanka Army killed surrendering LTTE leaders

Dec 13, Colombo: Former Sri Lankan Army Commander and the presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka said his army killed surrendering LTTE leaders on the orders of Defense Secretary.

In an interview to Sunday Leader, Fonseka said Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa ordered Brigadier Shavendra Silva to eliminate all the LTTE militant leaders during the final stages of the war.

The former commander claimed that he had no knowledge of the final stages of the war that there were key LTTE leaders willing to surrender.

Fonseka charged that communications were instead confined between the LTTE leaders, Norway, various foreign parties, senior adviser to the President and parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa.

The ex-general said the senior LTTE leaders Nadesan, Ramesh and Pulidevan had been shot dead by government troops as they advanced towards them carrying a white flag.

Brigadier Shavendra Silva was shocked to hear the allegation when contacted to verify General Fonseka's accusations, the Sunday Leader said.

Cash deposit submitted for Sri Lanka's main opposition candidate

Dec 11, Colombo: Secretary of the New Democratic Front Sharmila Perera submitted the cash deposit of 50,000 rupees at the Elections Secretariat in Rajagiriya this morning (Dec 11) on behalf of presidential candidate Rtd. General Sarath Fonseka for the upcoming Presidential election, said W. P. Sumanasiri, Additional Commissioner of Elections.

General Fonseka will contest as the common opposition candidate against incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa under the swan symbol.

Several members of the United National Front and Marxist party JVP were present at the occasion.

S Lanka army chief slams president

Fonseka has been accused of being a Sinhalese nationalist, worrying the country's ethnic Tamils [AFP] Sri Lanka's former army chief has accused the president of corruption, nepotism and abuse of power ahead of next month's election. General Sarath Fonseka's comments on Friday came a month after he resigned from the military, accusing the government of sidelining him after victory in the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), on suspicion that he was plotting a coup. He later announced that he would run against Mahinda Rajapaksa, the incumbent, in the election scheduled for January 26. "It is a military victory that we have won, but real peace has to come after the military victory," Fonseka said on Friday. "Under cover of war victory, if someone is trying to boost up his family image or to stick to nepotism ... then you can't say peace has come." President Rajapaksa's three siblings hold senior government positions. The president's older brother is a cabinet minister, his younger brother an influential political adviser and his youngest brother is the country's defence secretary. Separation of powers Fonseka said if elected he would trim the powers of the country's executive and strengthen the parliament under a prime minister. The presidency under the current system is so powerful that a serving president is immune to prosecution. Government ministers and supporters have cited Fonseka's military background to argue that he, instead of giving up power, may become a dictator. But Fonseka has said he has had ample opportunity in the past to do so if he had wanted. Rights abuses The army under Fonseka has been widely criticised for its poor human rights record during the war earlier this year, which ended a 25-year fight for independence by the LTTE. According to UN reports, more than 7,000 civilians were killed from January to May and a US state department report in October listed instances when government troops allegedly fired at civilians and hospitals and killed Tamil Tigers who surrendered under white flags. Fonseka denied the army was involved in war crimes and implied gangs at the behest of political leaders may have been involved in attacks on journalists. "As far as the army is concerned I don't know there were any war crimes. I monitored every action by the troops," he said. "In my previous job I did justice to them [the Tamils]. I destroyed the terrorism and liberated the affected people," Fonseka said, adding that in his next job he would ensure "equal rights and justice done to all communities in the country".

Opposition differences on devolution will affect Fonseka: Minister

The Sri Lankan government on Wednesday attacked opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka on the issue devolution of power for Tamils, saying differences between major parties supporting his candidature will prevent him from taking any stand on the matter.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government is working on a devolution package for Tamil-dominated northern Sri Lanka but there are difference between the opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and United National Party (UNP), a senior minister in the Rajapaksa government pointed out.

"There are differences between JPV and UNP on the 13th amendment (on devolution) and (Gen) Sarath Fonseka would not be able to take a stand," Keheliya Rambukwella said.

While the main Opposition UNP headed by former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe is in favour of extensive power sharing within a united Sri Lanka, the JVP has said it was important to first establish democracy and equal opportunities for all before taking up the devolution issueGen (retd) Fonseka, who quit as Chief of Defence Staff following differences with Rajapaksa, is JVP and UNP's joint presidential candidate for the January 26 election.

JVP Supremo Somawansa Amarasinghe in an interview had said it was important to first establish democracy and equal opportunites for all before taking up the devolution issue in the north.

"The JVP is the only party proposing something beyond the 13th Amendment. We are proposing that we first establish democracy and equal opportunities so that we go towards equality," Amarasinghe had told the Daily Mirror in July.

Meanwhile, the All People's Representative Committee (APRC) working on the devolution package has already submitted an interim report to Rajapaksa.

Ranil decides to accept Premiership of care taker government

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided to accept the post of Prime Minister in the care taker government that would be appointed by General Sarath Fonseka if elected to office, a senior UNP parliamentarian told Lanka News Web.

All parties supporting the General have agreed that soon after assuming office General Fonseka should appoint a care taker government with members of all parties represented in parliament until fresh parliamentary elections are held.

The next general election is scheduled to be held before April 22, 2010. Therefore, the care taker

government would be functional only for a few weeks.

In this backdrop, Wickremesinghe has decided to accept the post of Prime Minister after receiving a mandate and this decision is to be announced at the party’s convention on the 5th.

Meanwhile, SLFP (M) Wing Leader Mangala Samaraweera told the Executive Committee of the UNF that contrary to stories that were doing the rounds, he had no intention of being appointed as the Prime Minister of the care taker government and that it is Wickremesinghe who should be appointed to such a post.

UNF changes name to Democratic Alliance to suit the General

A senior official at the Election Commissioner’s Department told that the United National Front (UNF) had changed its name and office bearers to field General Sarath Fonseka as the common candidate at the Presidential election and that the Election Commissioner has approved the changes.

The Democratic Alliance has requested for the “Swan” symbol and one Shermila Perera has been named as the party’s secretary. The address is 3000/1, Old Road, Welikada, Rajagiriya.

A senior UNP parliamentarian told us that the Democratic Alliance would be used only for the Presidential election and that the UNF and JVP would contest separately at the general election

Three Ministers and the Government are Concerned of What the General Said…

It is a pathetic show of resistance by three Ministers of the Government on the statements made by the General at the first Press Conference conducted by him on the 29th November at the JAIC Hilton. Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa as the Cabinet Spokesman states that the Government expressed concern over the remarks made by the Retired General that he would gladly accept the support from whatever quarter whether former LTTE cardres, sympathizers or supporters including Velupillai Prabakaran’s parents if they were prepared to accept his work plan and policies. This is the most ridiculous argument for a Government which has the former second-in-command of the

LTTE in the form of a Cabinet Minister and also a Deputy Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party the main constituent party of the ruling coalition.

It is no doubt that the first news briefing of the Retired General Sarath Fonseka, now the contender of the Presidency of Sri Lanka was a fabulous show of strength, courage and statesmanship of the man who could take Sri Lanka forward from the present dictatorial government, where nepotism, corruption and mismanagement are the key aspects of Governance. This has really irked the Government mouthpieces as there was nothing substantial stated at the news briefing, that they could counter attack. Therefore, they found one statement where the General stated of the support of the “former LTTE cardres”. Being a true democrat, the General stated that he would garner the support of former LTTE cardres, their sympathizers, supporters or even Probakaran’s parents. Why not? All of them are citizens of Sri Lanka but were misguided by a megalomaniac in the style of Velupillai Prabakaran. If they are reformed and “accept the policies and work plan” of a true democratic leader in the form of Sarath Fonseka, what harm would it do to the country? What could be the “concerns” for the Government, which has a few senior LTTE cardres in its rank and file, who have accepted the policies of the incumbent Government? We simply do not understand.

Ministers Dulles Alahapperuma and Keheliya Rambukwella too have joined the fray by contributing their two cents worth. Minister Rambukwella is talking of the elephant symbol of the UNP. Where is the hand symbol of the SLFP? Why the beetle leaf was chosen to fight against the UNP when the red brothers joined hands with the SLFP even before the Minister crossed the divide and joined this Government? When they see that the mass support is being garnered by the opposition led General, the Government ministers get so agitated and they forget the past and lose their orientation. We will surely see many insane arguments in the days to come

“We did not fight to make kings out of one family” – General

General Sarath Fonseka told the media on Sunday (29) at the Hilton Residencies that the soldiers did not sacrifice their lives to rid the country of terrorism to make kings out of one family and he would therefore contest the forthcoming Presidential election as the common candidate in order to save the country and people from the crises they are currently faced with.

Addressing a media briefing attended by over 200 journalists, the General clarified his stance and expressed his firm commitment to abolish the Executive Presidency six months after assuming office. He said that diplomatic ties with

India would be further strengthened by him and that the ethnic issue could be resolved through a solution that goes beyond the 13th Amendment.

The General condemned the mud slinging campaign launched by the government saying no one could point a finger at him for being involved in any kind of rackets in military procurements during his 40 year military service. He said the story carried by certain media of the involvement of his son-in-law in some military procurement was baseless and that all military equipment and ammunition was purchased by Lanka Logistics, which is headed by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Speaking of the assassination of The Sunday Leader Editor in Chief Lasantha Wickrematunge and the attacks on media personnel, the General said that although the government tried to implicate him in these incidents, the people were well aware of whom well known drug dealers, thugs and other notorious characters are affiliated to.

General Fonseka said he plans to conduct independent investigations into the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge and attacks on the media and take action against the wrong doers as soon as he is elected to office.

‘Ranil will be PM if Fonseka wins polls’ in Lanka

An ally of the newly-formed United National Front in Sri Lanka has said if former Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka wins the next year’s Presidential Polls, UNP chief Ranil Wickremesinghe will be made the Prime Minister.

Fonseka, who resigned as Chief of Defence Staff a fortnight back following a spat with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is likely to be fielded as the common Opposition candidate in the Presidential polls.

“If Fonseka wins, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will be appointed the Prime Minister,” Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana wing) leader Mangala Samaraweera, said on Thursday.

The SLFP (Mahajana Wing) Central Committee has approved Fonseka’s candidacy, he said.

He said the government had been spreading rumours that Fonseka’s victory would pave the way for a military rule, the Island Newspaper reportedIt could be said that the present government was of a military nature because President Rajapaksa had already appointed 24 high ranking retired military personnel to top posts in his administration,” the newspaper quoted Samaraweera as saying.

Fonseka has all the required credentials to be the next President of the country, Samaraweera said.

A few days ago Ranil Wickremesinghe was named as the leader of the newly constituted 18-party United National Front (UNF).

'No one can claim success against LTTE as individual victory'

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said the victory against LTTE was achieved by the security forces and no one can claim it as an individual victory, in an apparent reference to Sarath Fonseka's plans to project him as a 'war hero' in the Presidential polls.

Rajapaksa made the comments at an interaction with senior journalists here amid indications that the former Army Chief will challenge him in the January 26 Presidential Polls as common Opposition candidate.

"People of all walks of life including the security forces were involved in the eradication of terrorism led by him and no one can claim it as an individual victory," Rajapaksa was quoted as telling a group of senior editors by Daily News.

Fonseka, who quit as Chief of Defence Staff a fortnight ago following a spat with Rajapaksa, is likely to formally announce his candidature tomorrowHe is widely credited for the military victory against the LTTE and he will project him as a 'war hero' during the polls, which is expected to be a keen contest.

Rajapaksa also said he decided to advance the Presidential polls by nearly two years to provide an opportunity for the Tamils in north and eastern Lanka to exercise their franchise.

"I think that the people in the North and East should have a right to get involved in the election of President in their land," Rajapaksa, who will contest the January 26 Presidential Polls as the ruling party candidate, said.

The decision was also to give an opportunity to the people in the North and East whose right to vote was "deprived by the LTTE at the last Presidential election".

Fonseka warns govt of consequences of reducing his security

Warning the Mahinda Rajapaksa government of the consequences of any reduction in his security, ex-Sri Lankan army chief and presidential aspirant Sarath Fonseka has said any attack on him due to inadequate protection could also kill hundreds of passers-by.

"Obviously, when security personnel (for me) is reduced from 600 to 25 and vehicle fleet of 25 is reduced to 3, it is not practically possible," Fonseka told reporters yesterday when asked about his complaints about inadequate security.

"There is threat on me when I move on the road. If they (the LTTE) attack me, over hundreds of others will also die on the road. That is not good for the security of others also, so I have gone to court on that (security issue)," he said.

The former army chief, credited for the annihilation of the LTTE in a military offensive earlier this year, quit as Chief of Defence Staff three weeks ago following a spat with Rajapaksa and yesterday announced that he will enter the fray to challenge the incumbent in the next presidential pollsClaiming that his fundamental rights have been violated by the state as it drastically reduced his security after his retirement, Fonseka has moved a court seeking more protection. In a letter to the President's secretary before his retirement, Fonseka had asked for enough security after giving up his uniform. It had said as agreed upon by the President, the requisite officers or soldiers and vehicles should be made available for security duties for him.

Former army chief to run for Sri Lankan presidency

General Sarath Fonseka accuses incumbent of being a dictator for failing to return country to normality after civil war

General Sarath Fonseka announces his presidential candidacy in Colombo. Photograph: Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty Images

Sri Lanka's former army chief announced today he will run for president as head of a coalition of opposition parties.

General Sarath Fonseka's forces swept through the jungles of northern Sri Lanka and crushed the Tamil Tiger rebels in May. He resigned two weeks ago, accusing the government of sidelining him after the end of the long-running civil war.

In his first news conference as a politician, Fonseka accused the president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, of being a dictator for failing to return the country to normality at the end of the war. He alleged that the government was curtailing media freedom and dragging its feet on resettling war refugees – echoing complaints from international rights groups.

"We have done away with the terrorists. But now you can't leave the country in the hands of a tin-pot dictator," he said.

Questions have been raised about Fonseka's conduct during the war. This month, US officials tried to question him over alleged human rights abuses by his forces. A state department report said military attacks on civilians and hospitals could amount to war crimes.

Fonseka said he had never covered up any illegal activity in the army during the war. He pledged to abolish the powerful executive presidency and return power to parliament in six months, and to take measures to curb corruption and restore democracy.

Fifteen opposition parties – all with little hope of defeating Rajapaksa on their own – have said they would support Fonseka in the election, scheduled for 26 January.

Rajapaksa, who still has two years left in his six-year term, called the early elections to take advantage of his popularity after the military ended the civil war. In a series of recent local elections, Rajapaksa's coalition has won control of all eight provincial assemblies.

Tamils will not vote for Fonseka to be President– CWC

By Gandhya Senanayake If General Sarath Fonseka is elected as the President he will behave like a dictator and no one will be able to speak out against him or his misdoings and so he will not have the vote of the minorities especially the Tamils, the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) said. The CWC media unit qouted Estate Infrastructure Deputy Minister and Ceylon Workers Congress leader Muthu Sivalingam as saying that General Fonseka, who had claimed credit for the army victory over the LTTE, had no political experience to run for the presidency. Minister Sivalingam had further noted that the minority could not vote for the General because if they did so they could not voice their needs and fulfill their objectives and goals. MP Basil Rajapakse who had attended the rally meanwhile had said that the Nuwara Eliya workers could now move freely without being arrested under suspicion unlike earlier times because of the present government and because of the President. He had pointed out that the last time president spoke in the area there had been poor attendance, but that there had been a greater number this time, proving that the president’s popularity in the region was on the increase. “This was not a SLFP voter base in the 2005 elections, but having Mr. Thondaman support our party has helped assures these people we have their best interests in mind.” “Mr. Thondaman was sent to India to bring a Tamil Nadu delegation to visit the IDP camps. This was the first time that a party from that Tamil Nadu visited the camps and that it was headed by the daughter of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidi himself he added”. He had gone on to say that this was his first presidential rally and this was the first speech he was making on behalf of the President, sources in at the meeting conferred.

Ex-army chief Fonseka to run for Sri Lanka presidency

Gen Fonseka says he has never lost a battle yet

General Sarath Fonseka's move sets the scene for a stand-off with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has called the election two years ahead of schedule.
Gen Fonseka is said to be at odds with the government over who should take credit for Sri Lanka's final victory over Tamil Tiger rebels in May.
Two main opposition parties say they will support the former top soldier.
The electoral office announced on Friday that presidential polls would be held on 26 January.
'Never lost'
Speaking to journalists late on Friday, Gen Fonseka said he expected to defeat the president.
"I have never lost a battle. I can win this one too," he said.
He is expected to give a news conference formally announcing his intentions on Sunday.
The 58-year-old is credited by many with securing the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels after decades of conflict.
He stepped down as chief of defence staff in November, amid reports of a falling-out with Mr Rajapaksa.
Correspondents say the general has a reputation as a Sinhalese nationalist.

Q+A-Sri Lanka opposition backs ex-general for president

Sri Lanka's main opposition said on Thursday it will back former army chief Sarath Fonseka's bid in a presidential poll, the most serious challenge to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's re-election campaign. [ID:nCOL130560]

Fonseka, a key figure in the defeat this year of Tamil Tiger separatists after a 25-year war, has yet to formally announce his candidacy to challenge his former commander-in-chief.

Here are some questions and answers on Fonseka:

WHO IS SARATH FONSEKA?

A soldier from 1970, Fonseka was the army commander who spearheaded victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels in a 34-month campaign.

Known for his volatile temper and win-at-all-costs attitude on the battlefield, Fonseka was nearly killed in April 2006 by a rebel suicide bomber, but returned three months later to launch the campaign that defeated the separatists..

WHY DID HE RESIGN?

Fonseka has accused Rajapaksa of sidelining him despite his contribution to the victory, and of sullying the army's reputation by falsely alerting India that a coup plot was afoot in October.

WHY IS THE OPPOSITION RALLYING AROUND FONSEKA?

None of the opposition parties has a candidate to challenge Rajapaksa, who was at one point expected to win his second six-year term easily.

The United National Party, the main opposition grouping, endorsed Fonseka on Thursday and the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna has said it will support him if he runs.

Fonseka has so far made no formal announcement. But if he runs as the candidate of a united opposition, analysts say it will be a tough call between him and Rajapaksa.

WILL MINORITY GROUPS SUPPORT HIM?

Minority groups have yet to take a firm stand on Fonseka's expected bid to contest the presidency. Parties representing minority Tamils and Muslims are in discussions with him, mainly focusing on minority rights. The groups command a swing vote of up to 25 percent.

CAN FONSEKA TAKE VOTES FROM RAJAPAKSA?

Fonseka has at least as much claim as Rajapaksa to credit for victory in the war, a key factor in the incumbent's popularity.

HAS THE FONSEKA FACTOR AFFECTED RAJAPAKSA?

Ministers and a close confidante of Rajapaksa say the incumbent is not at all worried about the prospect of Fonseka running.

But the presidential administration has undertaken moves that appear linked to just such a contest.

Authorities pledged last Saturday to provide freedom of movement from Dec. 1 for refugees from the long-running conflict held in military-guarded camps, a concern raised by Fonseka.

The government also relaxed security measures in Colombo on Thursday after Fonseka petitioned the Supreme Court to provide him with increased security -- opening up long blocked streets and reducing security measures provided for dignitaries.

Since Fonseka's resignation, some ministers have been underscoring the role of senior politicians in securing victory over the Tigers, discounting the role played by Fonseka.

WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMY?

If Fonseka enters the presidential race, economists expect Rajapaksa to spend more to woo voters with public-sector wage hikes, subsidies and new state jobs. Rajapaksa has already promised public sector pay increases from January.

But implementing this will be very difficult due to strings attached to a $2.6 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). If Rajapaksa decides to cancel the IMF loan, investor confidence in the $40 billion economy will be badly dented.