Sarath Fonseka disenfranchised

The name of Sarath Fonseka the former army commander and the leader of the Democratic Party is to be removed from the voters list by the Election Commissioner on the instructions of the Attorney General.

This decision had been taken after the Elections Commissioner requested Attorney General for a ruling on whether Mr. Fonseka was entitled to vote.

Sources close to the Elections Commissioner’s office said that this decision had been taken following an investigation by a special team of officers from the AGs department and the Elections Commissioner had been informed yesterday.

It is said that the Elections Commissioner will now take action to strike off the name of Sarath Fonseka from the voters list of 2014. Mr. Fonseka exercised his franchise at the recent Western Provincial Council elections, casting his vote at a polling booth in Kesbewa as his name was on the voters list of 2013.
As many had asked the Elections Commissioner whether a person found guilty by a court martial possessed the right to vote, he had sought clarification from the AG.

This ruling by the AG is to be announced to the party secretaries at a meeting summoned today by the Elections Commissioner. (Ranjan Kasthuri)