Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka is to register a new party called the Democratic Party and relevant documents are to be handed over to the Elections Commissioner for the registration, party sources said.

The names of MPs Tiran Alles and Arjuna Ranatunge have been proposed to the posts of secretary and deputy leader of the party. Ranatunge is coordinating the work related to the registration of the party with the Elections Department.

Fonseka has decided to resort to legal action if the Elections Commissioner does not register his party. He has already commenced discussions to explore the possibility of taking over an already registered political party in the event his party is not granted registration.

However, a senior official at the Elections Secretariat said there would not be a legal impediment in registering Fonseka’s party since three members of the party are already members of parliament.

Presidential Advisor Hemakumara Nanayakkara who recently resigned from his post has taken over Harischandra Wijetunge’s Maha Sammatha Bhoomi Puthra party and has changed its name.