Fonseka files election petition challenging Rajapakse’s second term

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 February 2010, 13:05 GMT]
General (retd) Sarath Fonseka filed a petition Tuesday morning in the Supreme Court challenging the election of incumbent President Mahinda Rajapakse for a second term in the presidential election held on January 26 this year. General Sarath Fonseka in his petition cited several malpractices including the misuse of State media, electronic and print, misuse of the State machinery and other election malpractices at polling booths and counting centres, legal sources said.

The petitioner Fonseka has cited twenty persons as respondents including President Mahinda Rajapakse, Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake.

Fonseka has sought the court to declare the election of Mahinda Rajapakse for a second term null and void.

Sarath Fonseka contested the last presidential election and lost to Mahinda Rajapakse.

He was arrested by the Military Police for an alleged plot to overthrow the Rajapakse government and is currently being detained in the office of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Hence he filed the election petition through the law firm Asoka Samararatne Associates, legal sources said.