Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has officially entered the 2024 Presidential Election race by placing his deposit today, August 5, 2024. Dhammika Ratnayake made the cash deposit on Fonseka’s behalf.
Fonseka, who announced his presidential candidacy on July 25, expressed his commitment to the people of Sri Lanka, stating, “A lot of people have asked me to contest for the presidential election, and I am looking forward to accepting the call of the people of Sri Lanka.”
The former Army Commander, who was the common opposition candidate in the 2010 presidential election, has invited all Sri Lankans to join him “to take Sri Lanka forward.” Fonseka is renowned for his role in ending the 26-year war against the LTTE in 2009 as the eighteenth Commander of the Sri Lankan Army. Following his military career, he briefly served as Chief of Defence Staff and was later promoted to the rank of Field Marshal by then-President Maithripala Sirisena on March 22, 2015, becoming the first Sri Lankan Army officer to achieve this rank.
After his defeat in the 2010 presidential election against then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Fonseka transitioned into politics, securing a parliamentary seat in the subsequent general election.
As of now, a total of 16 candidates have placed their deposits with the Election Commission. This includes seven independent candidates, eight from recognized political parties, and one from other political parties.
