Fonseka to contest Lanka parliamentary polls

Defeated opposition presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka, currently under army custody, will lead the Democratic National Alliance in the April 8 parliamentary polls and contest from capital Colombo.

"Gen Fonseka will head the (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna-led) Democratic National Alliance and will contest from Colombo district," senior JVP leader Vijitha Herath said.

Fifty-nine-year-old Fonseka was arrested on February 8 for allegedly planning a coup against the government while he was army chief.

Anoma, the wife of Fonseka told journalists, that a decision has been taken on issue and the former army chief will heading the JVP-led alliance and contest from Colombo district.

However, it remains to be seen whether Fonseka will be permitted to contest elections.

Asked whether his alliance was open to talks with the United National Front headed by former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, Herath said, "We are still open for discussions but the previous attempts had failed."

"Not that we have not held discussions with the United National Party and their alliance partners. But so far it has failed. But we are open to further discussions if invited by them," Herath said in reply to a question.

He said the DNA would contest under the Trophy symbol.

Former Sri Lanka Freedom Party Member of Parliament and deputy minister Arjuna Ranatunga also has combined forces with the DNA and will be contesting under the leadership of General Fonseka.

The UNF which includes the single-member parties of Mangala Samaraweera's Sri Lanka Freedom Party-Mahajana wing and Mano Ganeshan's Democratic People's Front and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress led by Rauf Hakeem has finalised the seats for its candidates except for the Batticaloa and Nuwara Eliya districts, sources said.