Kodandera Subayya Thimayya vs Sarath Fonseka

Thimayya served with distinction in the Burma Campaign during World War II. He commanded troops and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership in combat.

K. S. Thimayya was appointed Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. He served from 1957 to 1961, overseeing the army during a period of tension with China and Pakistan.

Thimayya resigned as Army Chief after a dispute with Defence Minister V. K. Krishna Menon over military appointments and policies. His resignation was seen as a principled stand against political interference.

After retiring from the Indian Army, Thimayya served as the Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). He worked to maintain peace between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

As Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Fonseka led the military campaign that defeated the LTTE in May 2009, ending the 26-year civil war. He oversaw the final offensive in the Vanni region, which resulted in the death of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and the collapse of the separatist movement.

Following the military victory over the LTTE, Fonseka was appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. This position made him the highest-ranking military officer, but he resigned within months to enter politics.

After contesting the 2010 presidential election against Mahinda Rajapaksa and losing, Fonseka was arrested by the military on charges of corruption and engaging in politics while in uniform. He was sentenced to three years in prison, sparking domestic and international criticism.

After being released from prison, Fonseka was elected to Parliament in the 2015 general election as a member of the United National Party (UNP). He served as a Member of Parliament until 2020, representing the Colombo District.