Colombo: Amid speculation that Sri Lanka's
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Sarath Fonseka may fight the
Presidential Polls, the country's Army Chief has warned
military personnel against dabbling in politics, saying
soldiers in uniform have no right to engage in political work.
Army Chief Gen Jagath Jayasuriya also made it clear
that action would be taken against any personnel engaged in
political work.
"We should be partial to the government in power. All
governments at the end of their tenure hold elections. Army
officer or a soldier wearing a uniform has no right whatsoever
to engage in political work with any contesting candidates,"
the Army website quoted Jayasuriya as saying.
"Any soldier or officer if found (violating the
advisory) will be subjected to disciplinary action and faces
discharge from the Army," he said while speaking to senior
army officers here late last week.
"Support given by President (Mahinda Rajapaksa) and
Secretary Defence (Gotabhaya Rajapaksa) for the victory of the
war directly attributed to its win over terrorism," he said.
Opposition parties are wooing Gen Fonseka, the war
hero and the top Army man, into the race for mid-term
Presidential Polls, speculated to be held in coming months.
"Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said there was nothing wrong in
military personnel entering politics but definitely not in
uniform," the island nation reported.
Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said the opposition seemed
to be making a desperate bid to challenge the President whose
popularity was at its "zenith", the paper reported.
"This is nothing but a despicable plot being hatched
at the expense of the entire country," he said.
"An irate Defence Secretary rejected the Opposition
allegation that the former Army Commander (Fonseka) had been
ill-treated by the government," the paper said.
"Let me tell you that General Fonseka was appointed as
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) with his consent. Although, I
haven't discussed this issue publicly before, I have no option
but to reveal what really transpired," Rajapaksa said.
The Defence Secretary said after taking General
Fonseka's opinion into consideration, President had appointed
the former Army Chief as the CDS.
Bureau Report