Colombo, October 08: A member of the opposition DNA has been named to replace Sri Lanka’s former army chief Sarath Fonseka in parliament after he was court-martialled to serve a 30-month rigorous jail term for corruption in defence deals.
The name of Lakshman Nipunaarachchi of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) was sent to be gazetted by the Election Department to fill the House seat that fell vacant after Fonseka was stripped of the membership following his jail sentence.
The Sri Lankan constitution allows the candidate securing the second highest preferential votes to succeed the elected member of the respective constituency in the event of the incumbent’s demise or disqualification.
Accordingly Nipunaarachchi’s name has been sent to the election commissioner to be gazetted as an MP for Fonseka’s vacant seat, sources said.
Fonseka and Sunil Handunnettiwere were elected to parliament from the Colombo district.
–Agencies