On a directive by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga has informed retired Army Commander and Chief of Defense Staff , General Sarath Fonseka that his request for a 66 member security contingent as been approved and released accordingly by the incumbent Army Commander.
Meanwhile, well informed sources disclosed that General Fonseka was using 23 vechicles belonging to the Army after retirement while enjoying the privilege of another 110 solders in an unauthorized manner.
Defence analysts described this high handed conduct as a gross violation of militarily discipline by the highest ranking officer who had a served the military for 40 long years and the Tri-Services for a brief period .after retirement as Commander of the Army.
Considering this allegation, defense analysts argue about the right of General Fonseka to speak about discipline, law and order.
Gen.Fonseka has requested five female soldiers to conduct security checks on women who enter his house. However, this request has not been acceded as the reason looks funny. Those who enter his premises would be subjected to security checks at the entrance his house.
If an unknown person( women or man) or any visitor arrives to meet the General, they would first meet the security at the entrance, prove their identity for the security men at the gate to convey to the General or his wife at the residence.
Therefore, informed sources described the General's request for five female soldiers to be kept in side the house for internal checks as funny and hilarious.
The Secretary to the President has informed General Fonseka that he would have the privilege of 10 Comandos and two senior officers of the Sinha Regiment in addition to 50 other military men of that regiment in various positions.
The General has been allocated a bullet proof B.M.W car for his personal use with two security Land Rover jeeps. Furthermore, the General will be afforded the facilities of requesting vehicles for his administrative work from the army. He is provided with four military drivers.
Necessary arms, and signal and transmission equipment for security purposes have also been provided to the General's security contingent by the government.
Comments
Gen Fonseka is a war hero and
Gen Fonseka is a war hero and he must be protected. So President Rajapakse has given security what Gen Fonseaka wanted. Now what Gen Fonseka is talking is very unclear. It appears that Gen Fonseka is playing dirty politics with state security. As per letter attached, Gen Fonseka has got what he wanted. In order to make it a political issue he keeps on increasing his demand every hour passes.
How could a onetime hero behave this cheap?
Is this the person whom we took on to our shoulders and adore like god?
Are we dumb and stupid and this man cheated us of his true character for many years?
However, we are not stupid. Even if we were stupid, we will soon have opportunity to correct ourselves. If Gen Fonseka assumes that people of this country will support him without understanding ball game that he is trying to play so cheap and mean, he is wrong.
We shall cast our vote intelligently. This kind of behaviour has no place in this country.
Bogus General
It is known by SFs colleagues that he will scoop down to very low levels to achieve his personal ambitions even at the expense of his fellow officers. This man has no principles or convictions when his come to his personal glory. Though he is giving the impression that he has no accommodation to go he has several houses all over the country which he has bought under different family members.
The agreement he has entered into with the government about his security is not maintained according to the writer. By holding on to the security staff he had before he retired he is breaking the spirit of the agreement. After all when he retires what security he talking about. None of the previous Army Commanders are provided any additional security at state expense. Why this security for SF who boasts that he has destroyed the Tamil tigers.
The day SF hands his nomination papers, he is reducing himself to be a candidate. He should be given the protection provided to Janaka Perera, who was a retired General. By agreeing to provide additional security the government is wasting public funds which can be put to better use. Retired personnel do not have the same privileges as do the people in office. If this principle is not applied it will burden the public purse to provide security to people on retirement.
What about Mr. Lalith Weeratunge?
Mr. Lalith Weeratunge is the top civil servant in the country. He is always seen to be escorted by security personnel from the Presidential Security Division. He is not the Commander of Armed Forces but the Secretary to the Commander of Armed Forces. Are the civil servants of Sri Lanka entitled to security provided by the PSD?
Security to the President
I wonder whether you understand security to the president?? That includes his top officials. This security is not provided to Mahinda Rajapaksa but for the Presidents Office. When MR or Lalith Weerathunge leaves office they should not be entitled to these perks. If you remember CBK fiasco you will understand. Problem with SF is he want more security for himself than he had while in office. There is no rationale of this man. Even the security detail provided by the government for this guy on retirement to run around the country to discredit the government at the expense of the government is unthinkable. If this is the case CBK should get more security being a head of state than SF.