Sri Lanka news

Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister, Mahinda Samarasinghe today described a statement by retired Gen. Sarath Fonseka to the “Sunday Leader: newspaper making a claim that Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered then Brigadier Shavindra Silva to execute the killing of LTTE frontliners, Pulidevan and Nadesan who had reportedly surrendered with white flags in hand, was the greatest ever betrayal based on the untruth, ever made in the history of this country.

Minister Samarsinghe was addressing newsmen at a media briefing held at the Media Centre for National Security,Colombo. Media and Information Minister, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa chaired the media briefing.

Continuing Minister Samarasinghe who read out a statement made by Gen.Sarath Fonseka on July 10 this year at a felicitation ceremony held for Fonseka at the Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda said the General on that occassion had said that the Army never killed any any terrorist leader who surrendered with white flags in their hands.”These two statements of Gen.Fonseka are contradicting each other”, claimed the minister.

Asked whether the Defence Secretary and Major General Shavindra Silva would take legal action on such a serious allegation published in the “Sunday Leader”, the minister said,” The matter is being studied at present to decide on the course of action”.

He pointed out that Fonseka, by his reported statement had not only betrayed the nation, but the very Army that he led at that time and added the country had persons of that calibre recorded in the history who betrayed the nation, and Sarath Fonseka fell into that betrayal category.

The Minister claimed that Fonseka had made that statement for political gain as a candidate and the contents were malicious though concocted.

He alleged that the episode was a part of the effort to destabilize the country and pointed out that the six doctors,Prabakaran’s parents, Daya Master and Charles Master who surrendered with white flags were looked after well and still alive.”Hence, this allegation is done to discredit the government for political advantage with an ulterior motive”, the minister asserted.

Environment Minister,Patali Champika Ranawaka said it was not only a betrayal by Fonseka but a damaging statement to the honor of the gallant armed forces who bravely fought the war.

National Freedom Front Leader, Wimal Weerawansa said Fonseka has betrayed his own colleagues in the Army like what Judas did to Jesus and has falled into the gang of conspirators against the very nation Fonseka claimed to have liberated.

Weerawansa added that it now looked Fonseka was executing a ‘paid contract’ for the opposition which used international influence to destabilize the country.

The Director General of the Media Centre for National Security,Lakshman Hulugalle, IGP Mahinda Balasuriya and DIG (Elections),Gamini Navaratne were also present.