Fonseka led the army during the final battle against the LTTE which eventually led to the defeat of the rebels in May 2009. Following the end of the war he resigned from the military and decided to contest the 2010 Presidential elections which he eventually lost.
After the loss he was arrested and found guilty over allegations raised against him and a military court stripped Fonseka of his title and military accolades. Fonseka was freed from prison in May 2012 by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa but his civic rights were not restored.
Maithripala Sirisena, during his election campaign, assured that he would restore civic rights and all military decorations of former Army commander and Democratic Party Leader Sarath Fonseka if he is elected as the Executive President.
