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No civic rights, but Fonseka votes
View(s):Former General and Democratic Party leader Sarath Fonseka whose civic rights remain withdrawn still cast his vote at the Western Provincial Council elections yesterday. Mr. Fonseka turned up at the Sumanasekera Batakeththarama Vidyalaya in Piliyandala with a valid polling card. Officials read his name out and later issued a ballot paper. There were no objections from the polling agents.
Speaking to crowds away from the polling booth, Mr. Fonseka remarked that the Elections Commissioner had recognised his right to vote and that he now had civic rights. Mr. Fonseka, who was commander of the Army when the LTTE was defeated in May 2009, and later was appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), was sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined Rs. 5,000 by the Colombo High Court in November 2011 in the White Flag case. He had been under detention since February, 2010.