Sri Lanka's former CDS did covert politics at his office, says Defence Secretary

Nov 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said now it is clear to everyone that General Sarath Fonseka had been plotted against the government for a long time, while he was secretly engaged in politics before he retired from the Army.

In an interview with today’s Sunday Lakadeepa edition Nov 29 the Defence Secretary said General Fonseka has apparently had a number of discussions with the opposition during the last few months and now it is obvious that his protests over speedy resettlement and blocking the process posing various security and other reasons were actions carried out upon the interests of opposition while in uniform.

As a result the government had to face severe pressure from the international community. However President Mahinda Rajapaksa managed to expedite the resettlement process, the Defense Secretary said.

Responding to a question he said that security has been given as Fonseka has requested except the five woman soldiers.

"We can't satisfy his unfair demand claiming a contingent of 600 security personnel as he is an ex-military officer and security is provided after careful investigation into the threats that he claimed," Secretary Rajapaksa said.

Finally he said that the General is not a challenge to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"We all respected him as a hero, but to no purpose he lost his integrity as he betrayed his leader by supporting anti government moves and his own dream of becoming a politician," the Defense Secretary commented.

General Fonseka announced his bid for presidency today at a media briefing. He is being backed by Sri Lanka main opposition United National Party, Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and few other minor political parties.

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