Sarath Fonseka

Listed from published reports. Appearing here is not a finding of wrongdoing.

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Details

Role: Former army commander who led the army in the final stage of the civil war
History: Ran for president in 2010; arrested two weeks later and stripped of his rank; released in May 2012
Appears on: Politicians and investigators
The LTTE war, 1983 to 2009
Last checked: 14 Oct 2026 (what this means)

Connections (7)

Sarath Fonseka / Led the army in the war alongside / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Reports that he led the army to victory in the final stages of the war alongside Gotabaya Rajapaksa.20 May 2012 · Al Jazeera · Sri Lanka to free jailed ex-army chief
Sarath Fonseka / Lost 2010 election to; jailed, then freed by order of / Mahinda Rajapaksa
- He trailed Rajapaksa by 17 points in the 2010 presidential election, was arrested two weeks later and stripped of his rank. In May 2012 President Rajapaksa ordered his release; Fonseka’s wife said she had been told it would be unconditional.20 May 2012 · Al Jazeera · Sri Lanka to free jailed ex-army chief
Sarath Fonseka / Called the UK sanctions on him unreasonable / Shavendra SilvaAllegation
- Fonseka said in March 2025 that Silva was at the forefront of the war and that the United Kingdom’s sanctions on him were unreasonable, while calling its sanctions on two other former commanders reasonable.31 Mar 2025 · Newswire · "UK sanctions against Shavendra Silva unreasonable, others fair" - Sarath Fonseka
- The United States imposed travel restrictions on Silva in 2020, citing command responsibility for alleged gross violations of human rights, and the United Kingdom sanctioned him in 2025. He said: “I’m not a war criminal. I fought for my country.”7 Sep 2026 · Newswire · “I’m not a War Criminal, I fought for My Country”: Shavendra Silva
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) / Contested in an alliance led by, 2010 / Sarath Fonseka
- From 2010 to 2015 Dissanayake was a National List MP, when the JVP contested as part of the Democratic National Alliance led by Sarath Fonseka.15 Sep 2024 · The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) · Get to know the main contenders’ core teams
Sarath Fonseka / Army commander, from December 2005 / Sri Lanka Army
- He took over as army commander in December 2005. The profile says he modernised and expanded the army and was called the architect of its military victory.18 Nov 2011 · Al Jazeera · Profile: General Sarath Fonseka
Gotabaya Rajapaksa / As defence secretary, backed the modernisation drive of / Sarath Fonseka
- Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president’s younger brother, backed Fonseka’s modernisation efforts. Fonseka later said their split stemmed from a dispute over who deserved credit for the victory.18 Nov 2011 · Al Jazeera · Profile: General Sarath Fonseka
Sarath Fonseka / Credited as the architect of the military victory; announced Prabhakaran’s death, per Daily FT / End of the war, May 2009
- The profile credits him with leading the military campaign and calls him “the architect of the military’s victory”. It says he later claimed he was the main force behind the victory.18 Nov 2011 · Al Jazeera · Profile: General Sarath Fonseka
- The column says Army commander Sarath Fonseka announced Prabhakaran’s death officially at 12:15 p.m. on 19 May 2009, and that Prabhakaran’s body was found near the Nandhikkadal lagoon.21 May 2025 · Daily FT · From Valvettithurai to Nandhikkadal: Rise and fall of LTTE