‘Not even a corporal will be allowed to be touched as long as I am there’

Feb 08, 2017

“It was the war heroes who protected this country. It is because of them that we live freely in peace. Our entire nation is grateful to the war heroes. During the war, they might have committed minor mistakes. Above everything else, their service to the country, nation and religion should be considered,” president of the democratic socialist republic of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena told top officials of the three armed forces who met him just before Independence Day.

They had met him to request him to immediately intervene with regard to the arrests of members of the defence establishment in the course of investigations into human rights violations, abductions, extortion and disappearances during the war.

The president assured them, “As long as I am in this position, not even a corporal will be allowed to be touched.” With his assurance, the military officials have been greatly relieved and they have informed former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa about it.