Your headline news in today’s (10the November issue) captioned "Ranil puts forth conditions for endorsing Fonseka’s candidature" must have shocked UNPers, as their leader has already conceded defeat and hopes to at least become the Prime Minister by promoting another candidate Gen. Fonseka who has not made any public announcement that he will be offering himself as a presidential candidate!

I am convinced beyond any doubt that Gen. Fonseka is a highly principled upright person who will not allow scheming political parties to use his reputation to bolster their political ambitions. They have been rejected by the people as shown in the recently held Provincial Council elections. I therefore conclude that the Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Sarath Fonseka will not demean himself by entering this double crossing stinking political arena.

I like to take this opportunity to give this gratuitous advice to the UPFA. The President’s popularity is at its zenith, and he can easily win the Presidential election. There is no need to sacrifice two years of his present office. What the President needs is a substantial majority in parliament to amend the present constitution.

By dissolving parliament first, opposition MP’s will have to devote all their time and energy to win a seat in parliament whilst government candidates will have the support of the President, whose popularity is at its zenith.

P.S.Mahawatte