Sri Lanka's former army chief Sarath Fonseka's brief stint as an MP has come to a sudden end in the wake of his 30-month imprisonment for corruption in defence deals.
Sri Lanka's former army chief Sarath Fonseka's brief stint as an MP has come to a sudden end in the wake of his 30-month imprisonment for corruption in defence deals, amid reports that the president may consider pardoning him if a plea is made personally by him or a family member.
Sri Lankan parliamentary secretary general Dhammika Kithulgoda today informed Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayaka that the parliamentary seat of 59-year-old Fonseka, who leads the opposition Democratic National Alliance (DNA), has fallen vacant.
Authorities have requested the EC to nominate a person for the seat in Fonseka's place.
Fonseka is serving a 30-month jail term imposed by a court martial after the ruling was approved by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the commander in chief of the armed forces of Sri Lanka. He was sent to jail on Thursday last for corruption in defence deals during his tenure as the army chief.
The Sri Lankan parliamentary system allows the candidate securing the second highest votes to succeed the elected member of the respective constituency in the event of the incumbent's demise or disqualification.
An ordinance in this regard also clearly states that if a member is jailed he loses his seat immediately, sources said.
Fonseka had contested the April 8 general elections from the Colombo district constituency.
The Daily Mirror newspaper, meanwhile, reported that Rajapaksa has said he would only consider a plea to release Fonseka if it is made by the former army chief himself or a member of his family.
The president said there was a laid down procedure for the granting of pardon and that had to be followed, it reported.
Rajapaksa said he would not consider any "politically motivated" plea for Fonseka's release.
Reacting to the move to disqualify Fonseka from his parliamentary seat, DNA general secretary Vijetha Herath said that the alliance will challenge the decision.
He said the opposition alliance will send a letter to both the Election Commission and the Parliamentary Secretary General as they have no right to disqualify him.
"We will also approach Supreme Court in this regard shortly," he said.
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