Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday conferred the highest military rank of Field Marshal on retired army chief and politician Sarath Fonseka.
Speaking at a state ceremony, President Sirisena said he was unjustly treated by the previous government. Mr. Fonseka was sent to prison by the previous Rajapaksa regime for alleged treason.
Following former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s defeat in the January elections, Mr. Sirisena, using his executive powers, cleared Mr. Fonseka of all allegations, including those of treason.
Ensuring justice for Mr. Fonseka was a “responsibility undertaken by the [new] government in our quest for justice for the whole of the army”, local reports quoted President Sirisena as saying.
Mr. Fonseka led the Sri Lankan army to victory over the rebel Tigers in 2009. However, after he fell out with Mr. Rajapaksa over sharing credit for war victory, the general was stripped off his rank and medals. He spent two years in jail and lost the right to contest elections for seven years.
