General Fonseka retired with immediate effect, his plea to continue in service till 1st of December, rejected.
Sri Lanka Government has accepted the letter of retirement sent by Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka with immediate effect, rejecting his plea to wait in service till 1st of December.
The letter from the President Secretariat addressed to General Fonseka pointed out that that “in keeping with your wish to proceed on retirement without further delay, as you have already over stayed your date of retirement by four years, you will be retired from the Sri Lanka Army with immediate effect. “
The letter further stated “Consequently, you will cease to hold office as Chief of Defence Staff, also with immediate effect.”
Earlier on Friday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa agreed to the request of Gen. Fonseka to retire from active military service and formally the Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga sent the letter accepting his resignation with immediate effect on Sunday, and a copy of the letter was also released to the media .
It said the government had no option but to retire the Chief of Defence Staff with immediate effect after he complained that the government had lost faith in him.
The letter further said, “A further communication setting out the position of the government to issues raised by Gen. Fonseka will follow.”
The text of the letter sent by the Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga, in response to the request made by Gen. Fonseka to retire from the post of Chief of Defence Staff is given below:
"I am directed by His Excellency the President to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 12 November 2009 seeking permission to retire from the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army.
I have also been directed by His Excellency the President to inform you that in keeping with your wish to proceed on retirement without further delay as you have already over stayed your date of retirement by four years, you will be retired from the Sri Lanka Army with immediate effect. Consequently, you will cease to hold office as Chief of Defence Staff, also with immediate effect.
This decision has been arrived at having giving anxious consideration to the fact that you yourself believe that H.E. the President and the Government have lost the trust and faith bestowed upon you, as the senior most serving military officer in the country.
I have been further directed to inform you that you will also be provided with adequate security commensurate with the level of threat.
In regard to the numerous statements made by you in your letter under reference and Annex A, I’m directed by His Excellency the President to inform you that a further communication will follow setting out the position of the Government.
Lalith Weerathunge,
Secretary to the Presidient.
Sunday, 15 November 2009."
- Aaian Tribune -
By K.T.Rajasingham
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