Crisis in Army again over appointments!

 Sunday, 01 March 2015 

The appointments made, through the Presidential Secretariat without the knowledge of the prime minister, to the Army by Gen. Sarath Fonseka a few days before new commander Lt. Gen. Krishantha de Silva assumed duties are likely to become invalid, say Army sources.

Brig. Duminda Keppetiwalana, who had been appointed by Gen. Fonseka as the director (operations) has been posted back as director of the infantry regiment. Brig. Jayantha Gunaratne is back at that post.

Maj. Gen. Mahesh Ratnayake has been appointed as the war secretary and Maj. Gen. Channa Gunatilake as the commanding officer of the volunteer corps. The appointment of the former came despite there being many who are senior to him.

Commenting on this, a top Army official loyal to Gen. Fonseka said, “General Fonseka made the appointments in the Army on merit basis, not on seniority basis. Hadn’t talent been recognized, we would still be fighting the war.”

Disagreeing, an independent top-ranking officer said, “The General is investigating corruption in the Army, but he is having former Col. Kapila Ratnayake near him. Why was it that Col. Ratnayake and a beautiful female corporal had to go home suddenly? The real situation is not a secret for those in the Army. Fonseka knows how Col. Ratnayake swindled money that had come from overseas to fund his campaign. The Gen. keeps silent about the corrupt who are around him while trying to clean up the Army. Isn't this ridiculous?”