The United National Front (UNF) will approve Sarath Fonseka’s candidacy at the forthcoming presidential and if he wins UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will be appointed the Prime Minister, SLFP (M) leader Mangala Samaraweera, MP said yesterday.

The SLFP (Mahajana Wing) Central Committee had unanimously approved Sarath Fonsaka’s candidacy at 2010 Presidential election and several SLFP stalwarts who supported him at the 2005 Presidential election would support the Opposition this time around, Samaraweera told a media conference in Colombo yesterday.

He said the government had been spreading rumours that Fonsaka’s victory would pave the way for a military rule. It could be said that the present government was of a military nature because President Rajapaksa had already appointed 24 high ranking retired military personnel to top posts in his administration.

He said a group of highly influential SLFP stalwarts such as Tiran Allas, Dirushki Sooriyaarchchi, Dr. Sisil Bandara, Neluka Ekanayaka and Ven, Malabe Seelaratne Thera had joined the Opposition to defeat President Rajapaksa. When present ministers Lakshman Yapa Abeyawardena, Meryvin Silva, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Dallas Alahaperuma and Dilan Perera conspired against President Rajapaksa, the SLFP had stood by Rajapaksa, Samaraweera said.