“With this objective in mind the Alliance would liaise with other opposition parties though they were contesting the General Election separately,” DNA General Secretary Vijitha Herath told journalists at a ceremony where General Fonseka’s wife Anoma handed in the General’s nomination papers to the DNA at its Rajakiya Mawatha office yesterday.

“It is the duty of all opposition political parties to come together for re-establishing democracy in Sri

Lanka and to free General Fonseka who gave some breathing space to the people of this country by crushing ter rorism,” Mr. Hearth said.

He said a large number of senior UPFA members disagreed with General Fonseka’s arrest and supported the opposition in its struggle to free the General.

Mr. Herath said a political party had the right to contest the election under a symbol of its choice. “We tried hard to form a common opposition alliance but now it’s all over,” he said.

Ms. Fonseka said her husband was like Nelson Mandela and Jawaharlal Nehru who also contested while they were in prison.

“I am happy that my husband is showing such boldness even while in prison,” she said and added that General Fonseka had vowed to continue his struggle fearlessly.

The Alliance is contesting in all 22 districts and would be lead by several senior JVP members. UPFA dissident Arjuna Ranatunga will lead the party in the Kalutara district while in the Galle District the party would be led by Chandrasena Wjesinghe. Bimal Ratnayake will head the Kurunegala District with K.D. Lal Kantha heading the party at Anurdhapura district and Wijitha Herath the Gampaha district.

The party had also included several new faces including former UNP organizer Jayantha Ketagoda JVP’s UVA provincial councillor Chamira Koswatte, and Sunil Watagala.

Meanwhile a former Sri Lankan cricketer’s wife is also expected to contest from the Colombo District.

The other big names to contest from the Colombo District include Sunil Handunetti, and Lakshman Nipunarachchi.

Courtesy: Daily Mirror