Dear President Sirisena, we can no longer salute this sycophant and call him our Commander
(Lanka-e-News- 16.Feb.2015, 5.10AM) The Sri Lankan army is possibly the biggest employer in Sri Lanka and military personnel and their families, including families of war veterans and those of deceased and injured servicemen and women amount to a large constituency spread across Sri Lanka. It is not a secret that the large part of these servicemen and their families voted for the Common Opposition, sans a few generals in the highest ranks (including the Commander Lieutenant General R. M. Daya Ratnayake) who benefitted from the Rajapaksa regime that openly and rather shamelessly campaigned for the former government.
The soldiers and their families were exposed to the highest levels of corruption and they got an insight into the politicization of what is one of the world’s top militaries under the Rajapaksa regime: particularly under Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapskha and his minion Gen Daya Ratnayake who shamelessly went from military base to base asking soldiers and officers to vote for Rajapaksa. He ordered his subordinates to follow suit and campaign for Rajapaksa, one camp at a time. Each of these propaganda events were followed by free giveaways of Rajapaksa branded promo material paid for by your tax rupees: everything from calendars, sil redi, wall clocks, mugs, jugs (you name it)
He published propaganda material detailing how the military victory was only made possible because of the Rajapaksa’s and circulated material that said voting for the Common Opposition would be anti-patriotic and would result in the Elam-ization of Sri Lanka. Books were published about how the Rajapaksa’s revived Buddhism in Sri Lanka and how voting for My3 would pave the way for the deterioration of Buddhism in the country. He handed out tax payer money, vehicles and resources to officers based in various provinces to be used on campaigning for Rajapaksa. It is no secret that Daya Rathnayake was one of the key figures behind executing the Rajapaksa’s wrath on General Fonseka. Furthermore, questions regarding their role in the alleged coup on election night have also been left unanswered.
Our Soldiers knew better. Young officers were frustrated with having to salute to a man who spent his time venerating politicians, drug lords and racist monks. War widows cried shame as he dragged to prison the General who freed this country from the clutches of terrorism. Officers were frustrated with having to be a subordinate to a politician a khaki uniform. They didn’t want a commander who reduced the soldiers from war heroes to hooligans and street sweepers.
It is frustrating to see that many weeks after the change of governments there hasn’t been a change the leadership of the Sri Lanka army leaving the soldiers who were hopeful of change extremely disappointed.
By -General K. J.S Perera (retired)
