By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema
Following General Sarath Fonseka’s resignation from the post of Chief of Defence Staff last Thursday November 12, the government on Friday, November 13, reduced his security contingent consisting of 400 elite commandos to a mere 25.
General Sarath Fonseka was assigned 400 security personnel and 25 vehicles after he was appointed Chief of Defence Staff.
Announcing that the General’s resignation be made effective immediately from November 13, the General’s security contingent was reduced to 25 security personnel. His official vehicles have been reduced to two jeeps and one bulletproof BMW car.
Former Navy Chief Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda is provided with 100 security personnel and six official vehicles including two bulletproof cars.Former LTTE leader, Colonel Karuna has been provided with more security than both the former Army and Navy Chiefs.
The President during a discussion with the General after last week’s Security Council meeting had said measures would be taken to provide the military chiefs who played a key role in the war with life long security. However, the President went back on his word barely 36 hours after Gen. Fonseka had handed in his letter of resignation.
Gen. Sarath Fonseka meanwhile expressed grave concern over his security after retirement from the post of Chief of Defence Staff. He has told confidants that there is a very real and high level of threat to his life from the LTTE.
Apart from the LTTE, the General has confided that if Sri Lanka’s bloody history of politics is anything to go by then there also exists an extremely high risk to his life “from other quarters.”
General Fonseka observes that the threat to his life has not ceased with the military victory as the security forces and intelligence units were still apprehending LTTE cadres with arms and ammunition months after the war has ended.
Citing the killing of Major General Janaka Perera, Fonseka has said the country’s political culture was not conducive for the entrance of key military figures into politics after retirement.
A key military officer to be assassinated after entering politics was Major General Janaka Perera, who was killed in a bomb attack in Anuradhapura in October 2008.
Defence Spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the security provided to General Fonseka following retirement would be in line with the criteria generally followed when assigning security to retired forces chiefs.
When asked if special consideration would be given to General Fonseka’s security given the key role played by him during the war, the Minister said, “The military victory was a result of a collective effort by all forces chiefs, the police, the civil defence force and even the soldiers who fought in the battlefront. Therefore, all military heads were provided with appropriate security.”
He added that General Fonseka’s security was enhanced after the war, but the normal procedures would be followed after his retirement.
Following General Sarath Fonseka’s resignation from the post of Chief of Defence Staff last Thursday November 12, the government on Friday, November 13, reduced his security contingent consisting of 400 elite commandos to a mere 25.
General Sarath Fonseka was assigned 400 security personnel and 25 vehicles after he was appointed Chief of Defence Staff.
Announcing that the General’s resignation be made effective immediately from November 13, the General’s security contingent was reduced to 25 security personnel. His official vehicles have been reduced to two jeeps and one bulletproof BMW car.
Former Navy Chief Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda is provided with 100 security personnel and six official vehicles including two bulletproof cars.Former LTTE leader, Colonel Karuna has been provided with more security than both the former Army and Navy Chiefs.
The President during a discussion with the General after last week’s Security Council meeting had said measures would be taken to provide the military chiefs who played a key role in the war with life long security. However, the President went back on his word barely 36 hours after Gen. Fonseka had handed in his letter of resignation.
Gen. Sarath Fonseka meanwhile expressed grave concern over his security after retirement from the post of Chief of Defence Staff. He has told confidants that there is a very real and high level of threat to his life from the LTTE.
Apart from the LTTE, the General has confided that if Sri Lanka’s bloody history of politics is anything to go by then there also exists an extremely high risk to his life “from other quarters.”
General Fonseka observes that the threat to his life has not ceased with the military victory as the security forces and intelligence units were still apprehending LTTE cadres with arms and ammunition months after the war has ended.
Citing the killing of Major General Janaka Perera, Fonseka has said the country’s political culture was not conducive for the entrance of key military figures into politics after retirement.
A key military officer to be assassinated after entering politics was Major General Janaka Perera, who was killed in a bomb attack in Anuradhapura in October 2008.
Defence Spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the security provided to General Fonseka following retirement would be in line with the criteria generally followed when assigning security to retired forces chiefs.
When asked if special consideration would be given to General Fonseka’s security given the key role played by him during the war, the Minister said, “The military victory was a result of a collective effort by all forces chiefs, the police, the civil defence force and even the soldiers who fought in the battlefront. Therefore, all military heads were provided with appropriate security.”
He added that General Fonseka’s security was enhanced after the war, but the normal procedures would be followed after his retirement.
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