Sri Lanka’s ex-army chief of Sarath Fonseka released on 21 May 2012

Former army chief Sarath Fonseka was released from jail this afternoon (May 21) after receiving a presidential pardon.

Shaking hands now rally, Mr. Fonseka said he would soon return to their communities very soon.

Stressing that he would need their support in future also, the former army chief said he was grateful to all those who supported him.

Fonseka joined the Army in 1970 as a cadet.

He was appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Commander of Sri Lanka 18th Army 6 December 2005. He was seriously wounded in an attack by the LTTE suicide bomb April 25, 2006.

He led the army to defeat the LTTE May 18, 2009, and was appointed Chief of Staff on July 15. 

He retired from the army on November 16 that year.

During the 2010 presidential election, as the main rival of Mr. Rajapaksa, polled 4.1 million votes.

He was arrested by military police Feb. 8, 2010 and August 18 that year, was convicted by a military court and given a prison sentence of three years, losing his military decorations.

A second military court found him guilty on Sept. 17.

The Colombo High Court sentenced him to three years in prison in hearing the "white flag".

At the last general election, he was elected to parliament in Colombo, the poll 98.485 votes.

But he lost the seat because of criminal convictions.

His words as he came out of the prison were, "I will sacrifice my life for you who stood by me and supported at all times. I'm here for you.