Fonseka files petition to get back lost seat

Democratic Party (DP) leader General Sarath Fonseka on Wednesday (25) filed a petition at the Court of Appeal seeking an order to reclaim his lost Parliamentary seat and revoke the appointment of Parliamentarian Jayantha Ketagoda.

The respondents for the case include the Parliamentary Secretary, the Election Commissioner and the Attorney General.

In 2011, Ketagoda became a Parliamentarian to fill the seat left vacant by the imprisonment of Fonseka who was sentenced to serve a three- year jail term by a military court.

The petitioner claimed that Fonseka is eligible to be reappointed in his position, since all charges have been dropped against him. The petitioner also notified that all civic rights and army titles of Fonseka have been restored following a directive issued by the President. 

Ketagoda, who was a strong member of the DP, left the party and joined the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) to support former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on 8 December 2014.