Sarath Fonseka

Sri Lankan general

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July 19, 2026

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Sarath Fonseka is a Sri Lankan general who commanded the military during the country's civil war. In the 2010 presidential election, he challenged the incumbent president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, but ultimately lost. Following the election, Fonseka was arrested on charges related to events before his retirement as general.12

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Mahinda Rajapaksa
Presidency
Retired general Sarath Fonseka, who had commanded the Sri Lankan army in the final battle against the Tigers, emerged as his main opposition. In the January election Rajapaksa easily defeated Fonseka, winning 58 percent of the vote, though the general protested the results. Despite questions arising from…
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Retired general Sarath Fonseka, who had commanded the Sri Lankan army in the final battle against the Tigers, emerged as his main opposition. In the January election Rajapaksa easily defeated Fonseka, winning 58 percent of the vote, though the general protested the results. Despite questions arising from…
Read More

Sri Lanka
Aftermath and recovery
…Rajapaksa faced stiff opposition from Sarath Fonseka, the former general who had commanded the Sri Lankan military during the civil war. Rajapaksa won a second term, although the results were challenged by Fonseka. In early February Fonseka was arrested while discussing with members of the opposition the upcoming April parliamentary…
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…Rajapaksa faced stiff opposition from Sarath Fonseka, the former general who had commanded the Sri Lankan military during the civil war. Rajapaksa won a second term, although the results were challenged by Fonseka. In early February Fonseka was arrested while discussing with members of the opposition the upcoming April parliamentary…
Read More