Description: (Former Chief of the Defence Staff of Sri Lanka)
Field Marshal Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka is a well-known Sri Lankan politician and former army officer. He served as the eighteenth Commander of the Sri Lankan Army and played a key role in ending the 26-year Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009 by defeating the militant group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Fonseka later transitioned into politics, where he faced controversies, including a brief imprisonment following his participation in the 2010 presidential election. After receiving a full pardon and the restoration of his military rank and civic rights, he held various ministerial positions before declaring his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election.