Sri Lanka's Fonseka mulls options - AL Jazeera

Fonseka stepped down from his post on Monday after differences with Rajapaksa [AFP] Sri Lanka's top general has said he will announce a decision on entering politics within two to three days, amid speculation he may run for the presidency. Sarath Fonseka's comments came after he officially stepped down from his post on Monday following differences with Mahinda Rajapaksa, the country's president. Fonseka, widely credited for leading the military to victory in its 25-year war with the Tamil Tiger rebels, announced his resignation last week as chief of defence staff, attributed to his "loss of trust" in Rajapaksa's administration. "Today I'm bidding farewell to the uniform," Fonseka said after signing an official document quitting as Sri Lanka's top military officer. Asked about a possible move into politics, he told reporters: "I expect to announce my future steps in two or three days. I will be serving the country in the future." Replacement Who is Sarath Fonseka? A soldier since 1970, Sarath Fonseka led the military to victory over the Tamil Tigers in May this year He resigned from his defence chief post last week, accusing the president of "sidelining him" despite his contribution to the war effort His military strategy, though victorious, prompted allegations of human rights abuses and high civilian casualties On a visit to the US this month, there was speculation that US officials would question him over alleged war crimes, but that did not happen Fonseka was wounded several times on the frontline and nearly killed in 2006 by a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber Also on Monday, Sri Lanka's president promoted his air force commander to be the country's top military officer to replace Fonseka. Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke was made the new chief of defence staff in addition to his duties as head of the air force, according to an official from Rajapaksa's office. On Sunday, Rajapaksa postponed an expected announcement of the schedules for early presidential and parliamentary elections due in April without giving a reason. Political analysts say Fonseka, who spent 39 years in the army, could split Rajapaksa's voter base by attracting those happy with the victory in the war. That could be unwelcome news for potential investors as some opposition parties in the country are considered less "pro-business" than Rajapaksa's coalition. Fonseka was granted a near free rein with nearly unbridled power as he headed the war effort with his former colleague, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the defence secretary and the president's brother. They defeated the Tami Tigers in a 34-month campaign criticised by human rights groups as unnecessarily brutal and costly in civilian casualties.