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Field Marshal Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc (Sarath Fonseka) ((シンハラ語:ෆීල්ඩ් මාෂල් සරත් ෆොන්සේකා), (タミル語:சரத் பொன்சேகா), born 18 December 1950) is a Sri Lankan military leader who was the first Sri Lankan Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.〔(Gen. GSC Fonseka elevated to the rank of 'Field Marshal' ), Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka), Retrieved 29 March 2015〕 He was the eighteenth Commander of Sri Lankan Army, under his command Sri Lankan forces ended the 26-year Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, defeating the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and he thereafter briefly served as the Chief of Defence Staff.〔(General G . S . C. Fonseka RWP RSP VSV USP rcds psc ), Ministry of Defence, Retrieved 29 March 2015〕 After retiring from the Army with the rank of General, he entered politics as the common opposition candidate in the 2010 Presidential election contesting against President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Following his controversial defeat in the presidential election he was elected to Parliament in the general election that followed. Soon after he lost his parliamentary seat and was made a political prisoner.〔(Prosecuting and persecuting the war hero – General Fonseka ), By Somar Wijayadasa, The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka), Retrieved 29 March 2015〕〔(Sarath Fonseka becomes Lanka’s first field marshal ) - The Times of India, Retrieved 29 March 2015〕〔(Fonseka to become first Sri Lankan Field Marshal ), Khaleej Times (UAE), Retrieved 29 March 2015〕 Fonseka supported Maithripala Sirisena in the 2015 Presidential election and following his victory, the newly appointed President Sirisena gave Fonseka a full pardon reinstating his civic rights, rank and decorations. Later he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal on 22 March 2015.〔(Sarath Fonseka to be bestowed with Field Marshal Title ) NEWS.LK (The Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka), Retrieved 29 March 2015〕〔(General Fonseka Made Field Marshal ) - P.K.Balachandran, The Indian Express, Retrieved 29 March 2015〕 Fonseka joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1970 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1971 and rose through the ranks while completing training stints across South Asia and in the United States and the United Kingdom. He saw extensive action throughout the 26-year civil war and over the years acquired a reputation as a tough battlefield commander and was often in the thick of the action in fighting against the Tamil Tigers, culminating in a term as Commander of the Army from 6 December 2005 – 15 July 2009.〔(The taking of Elephant Pass ), D.B.S. JEYARAJ Frontline (magazine), Volume 17 - Issue 10, May. 13 - 26, 2000, Retrieved 29 March 2015〕〔(Army Commander revisits early beginnings ), Shanika SRIYANANDA, Sunday Observer, Retrieved 17 May 2015〕〔(Nation Salutes War Veteran, General Sarath Fonseka (Retd) Conferring Field Marshal Rank ), army.lk, Retrieved 25 March 2015〕 As commander, he oversaw the final phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War, which resulted in the total defeat of the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. He also survived an assassination attempt when an LTTE suicide bomber attacked his motorcade in April 2006.〔(Sri Lanka's top general wounded in suicide attack ), The Sydney Morning Herald, Retrieved 29 March 2015〕〔(Medical battle that saved the Army Commander ) By Chinthaka Fernando, The Sunday Leader, Retrieved 29 March 2015〕 Following the end of the war Fonseka was promoted to a four star rank in the Sri Lanka Army, becoming the first serving officer to hold a four star rank.〔(Sarath Fonseka promoted Sri Lanka's first ever Field Marshal ), NEWS.LK (The Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka), Retrieved 29 March 2015〕〔(Armed Force Commanders promoted to next higher ranks ). Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order, Retrieved on 18 May 2009〕 He has been described as Sri Lanka's most successful army commander.〔〔(Sri Lanka rehabilitates ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka ), Charles Haviland, BBC News, Retrieved 29 March 2015〕〔(Review - Gota’s War -Final- revised ) By Major General (Retired) Lalin Fernando, Asian Tribune, Retrieved 18 May 2015〕 A few months after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, Fonseka was appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. While his new post was of a higher rank, Fonseka saw the move as an attempt to sideline him. Amid rumours of his desire to enter politics, he subsequently retired from the post on 16 November 2009. On 29 November 2009, Fonseka formally announced his candidature in the 2010 Sri Lankan Presidential Election. His candidacy was endorsed by the main opposition parties, and Fonseka became the main opposition candidate challenging President Rajapaksa. He campaigned under the sign of a swan, and the slogan ''Vishvasaniya Venasak'' (A Credible Change). Following his election defeat, Fonseka was arrested on 8 February 2010, and the government announced he will be court-martialed for committing "military offences".〔(Former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka in military custody ), Media Center for National Security〕 He was convited for corrupt military supply deals and sentenced to three years in prison.〔(Sri Lanka jails ex-army chief Fonseka ) AFP – 17 September 2010〕 After serving more than 2 years in prison, Fonseka was released amidst local and international pressure on 21 May 2012.〔〔(Ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka, jailed for treason, made field marshal in Sri Lanka ), The Guardian, Retrieved 29 March 2015〕 As per the pre-election statement, President Maithripala Sirisena, gave him the Complete Presidential Pardon and acquitted him of all the charges against him on 22 January 2015, restoring his Civic Rights.〔http://www.news.lk/news/business/item/5835-sarath-fonseka-acquitted-of-all-charges〕〔http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30912331〕 ==Early life== Fonseka was born on 18 December 1950 in the coastal town of Ambalangoda in the south of Sri Lanka. His father was Peter Fonseka, a school principal and his mother Piyawathie Fonseka was a teacher. He initially attended Madawalalanda Maha Vidyalaya (1955–1957) in Ampara,〔(General Fonseka visits his first school in Ampara ). Lanka Truth, Retrieved on 7 January 2010.〕 later receiving his secondary education from Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda (1958–1965) and Ananda College, Colombo (1966–1969). Fonseka represented his alma mater in cadeting, swimming and water polo events. He was the college swimming and water polo captain in 1969 and later represented the defence services and the country in these sports.〔 His interest in cadeting inspired him to join the Army.〔(Meteoric rise of Ananda's patriotic sons ), Rasika SOMARATNA, Daily News, Retrieved 4 May 2015〕〔(Ananda inspires students to serve the Nation ), Daily News, Retrieved 4 May 2015〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sarath Fonseka」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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