The common opposition's candidate for the presidential elections next month Maithripala Sirisena says he will restore all military decorations and civic rights of former army commander Sarath Fonseka, who was arrested and stripped of his honours after he ran against President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2010.

“I will restore all rights and military decorations of former army commander within hours of my election,” Sirisena said.

The presidential candidate said Gen Fonseka, who is thought to hold command responsibility for mass atrocities committed in 2009, is "venerated" by the masses.

"The Rajapaksas disparaged the general and attempted to paint a black picture of the war hero, but they could not hoodwink the masses and today General Fonseka is venerated by the members of the security forces and masses," he said.

Speaking during a meeting of Fonseka's Democratic Party, the former UPFA secretary distanced himself from the actions taken against the former army general by Rajapaksa's government, saying that he and several others in the UPFA were not supportive of the "harassment" of Gen Fonseka but had to be silent.

“Despite attempts to erase General Fonseka’s name from history, he will still be in the hearts of the people,” he added.

Fonseka is widely credited as one of the architects of Sri Lanka’s assault on the Vanni, an onslaught that saw mass atrocities committed by the army, leaving tens of thousands of Tamils dead.

Rajapaksa granted a presidential pardon to Fonseka in 2012, after he was sentenced for corruption, politicking whilst holding a military rank and for giving an interview to the Sunday Leader, alleging Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave direct orders to shoot surrendering cadres.

Sirisena and JHU rally against war crimes probe (03 December 2014)

Presidential candidate Sirisena signs MoU with opposition parties (01 December 2014)

I will protect Rajapaksas from war crime charges – Maithripala (28 November 2014)

Who is Maithripala Sirisena? (23 November 2014)