Dr.P.A.Samaraweera, Australia

On Friday 17th, the Second Court Martial sentenced Sarath Fonseka for 3 years in jail as the Military Court found he had engaged in corrupt deals and had favoured an Arms Company run by his son-in-law, Danuna. Danuna was given bail by Civil Courts and is now absconding.
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Last month, the First Court Martial found him guilty of dabbling in politics while in uniform and was stripped off his Rank, Medals and Pension.
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On the other side, he also brought shame by publishing aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ fancy story about a ‘White Flag’ and surrendees during the final stages of the war. Thus he let down the very Army in which he was the Commander.
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Sarath Fonseka was mis-led and taken for a ride by the UNP and JVP as they had no proper candidate to run against the President.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  As he was ambitious he took the bait despite the fact that he was given an extension and made Commander by the President.
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There is no dispute that the war was won because of the leadership and the courage of the President to withstandƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ international terror backers. But after the warƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Fonseka claimed sole credit and was supported by the UNP and JVP who were in political wilderness. They expecting a ‘piggy ride’ on his back andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ encouraged him to have a go at theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Presidential elections. But after his unsuccessful attempt the UNP dropped him like a hot brick.
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His downfall was his alignment with bankrupt politicians who tried to scuttle the war and ridicule the Army in which he was the Commander. Because of his greed for power he little realised that the UNP and JVP were only making him a cat’s paw to gain their own ends. Thus he drowned himself by swimming against the tide.
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The Opposition is now in tatters. The UNP is in shambles because of inside fighting for leadership. Eight UNPers have already joined the government. And 25 have threatened toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sit as independents when the Parliament meets on 22nd September as they say they see no future in the UNP, a sinking shipƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ !