Former Sri Lanka Army chief, General Sarath Fonseka, who has entered the Presidential race, has unveiled a 10-point manifesto, presenting himself as ‘acceptable to all’.
The manifesto is also titled ‘Believable Change’.
Fonseka has toured the Tamil heartland. The pro-LTTE Tamil party, TNA has extended support to him, though some reports said the TNA is split vertically on the issue. A senior TNA leader is also in the fray for the January 26 ballot.
The General, who is claims he is ‘apolitical’, notwithstanding the supportt extended by main opposition UNP and ultra Sinhala nationalist party, JVP, has vowed to restore democracy and eradicate corruption. He promises to cut taxes on essential food items, better price for paddy, Rs. 10,000 pay hike for government employees and amnesty to thousands of Tamil youth suspected of having links with LTTE
At a press conference in Colombo on Wednesday, Jan 6, the leader of the TNA parliamentary group, Rajavarothayam Sambanthan, said his group has decided to support Fonseka’s candidacy.
‘The majority [of Tamils] are of the view that the only meaningful way in which the desire of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to seek a mandate for a further term may be thwarted is by voting for joint opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka. Extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances have been common, and the worst affected are Tamil people. Corruption is rampant, and consequently the rule of law and good governance have reached the nadir’.
In the 2005 Presidential elections, Tamils did not participate in voting in respeconse to a boycott call given by the LTTE.
