Sarath Fonseka says he plans to contest presidential polls

Sri Lanka's former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka has said he plans to contest the January 26 presidential polls and his goal is to "counter dictatorship" and set up a democratic society.

Fonseka, who quit as Chief of Defence Staff recently following a spat with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said he aimed to set up a democratic society without corruption and terror.

"I have never lost a battle. I can win this one (the presidential polls) too," Fonseka said, addressing the National Lawyers Association here last evening.

The former Army Chief is expected to formally announce his candidature tomorrow.

Fonseka said the state of affairs in the country prompted him to join politics and that his goal was to counter dictatorship and to set up a democratic society sans corruption and terror in order to safeguard the rights of the people.

"I did not have any plans to enter politics initially, but the state of affairs within the country has forced me to contest the upcoming presidential election to protect democracy and the rights of the people," he was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.