Defence Secy, Army Chief assure remedial measures

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva yesterday (07) told The Island that the controversial Mahawamsa (sixth volume) that dealt with the fourth phase of the Eelam War would be perused by an expert team and remedial measures taken to correct mistakes.

Gen. Silva, who is also the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) said that the Army headquarters would definitely act on concerns expressed by Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, MP, during a recent debate on the Defence Ministry vote. Fonseka served as the Commander of the Army from Dec 2005 to July 2009.

Responding to another query, Gen. Silva said that he had been present in Parliament on 03 Dec, when the former Commander of the Army pointed out specific errors in the Mahawamsa latest volume.

Addressing Parliament, Field Marthal Fonskea urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was the wartime Defence Secretary, present Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne and Gen. Shavendra Silva to set the record straight.

MP Fonseka said that SJB leader Sajith Premadasa had recently given him the go ahead to raise contentious issues in Parliament and also assured him the defence portfolio in the next government. Fonseka declared that the SJB’s victory at the next parliamentary election was certain and therfore he would be the next Defence Minister.

The Field Marshal lambasted the Mahawamsa editorial team for what he called an extremely poor effort. He faulted the editorial team for depending on two Majors General, who retired in 1996 and 2000. They shouldn’t have discussed with Mahawamsa editorial team what they didn’t really know, Fonseka said.

Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne told The Island although he hadn’t been present in Parliament at that time, MP Fonseka participated in the debate on the Defence Ministry vote, the issues raised by the former Army Commander would be dealt with.

MP Fonseka said that the wartime General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the 58 Division the then Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva and GoC of 53 Division Maj. Gen. Kamal Gunaratne, too, have been deprived of much deserved coverage.

Field Marshal Fonseka questioned the entire Mahawamsa coverage of the war pointing out how the editorial team due to absence of knowledge in military matters completely botched the project. Fonseka said the editor had failed to correctly record the deployment of fighting formations, the theater of operations and the exact times. The former Army Chief asked how they could be so irresponsible in handling such a significant national matter. The five-Star General said that after the eruption of fighting at Mavil-aru he had never received any other political directives as regards offensive action.

MP Fonseka, who during much of his distinguished military career led from the front, declared that he would write his own book on the war numbering over 700 pages.

The former Army Chief also dealt with post-war accountability issues while reminding the Parliament he was among 58 senior officers blacklisted thereby denied visas by various countries. MP Fonseka reiterated the responsibility on the part of the government to punish those individuals responsible for excesses though the military as an institution wasn’t responsible for accountability issues.

The Field Marshal brought to the notice of the Parliament the difficulties experienced by the military at a time the country was struggling to cope up with Covid-19 situation. He said the officers and men shouldn’t be deprived of what was rightfully theirs, and alleged that those retiring after completing 22 years in the military had been deprived of gratuity and thus they had been placed in an extremely difficult situation.

Fonseka claimed that adequate funds hadn’t been allocated to meet the requirements of the armed forces and the country couldn’t afford to weaken the armed forces though they were not engaged in a conflict at the moment. He said the SLAF had been denied adequate jet capability and mentioned the absence of armoured fighting vehicles.

Field Marshal Fonseka strongly criticised the Indian fishing fleet brazenly poaching in Sri Lankan waters at the expense of the local fishing community. India shouldn’t be allowed to poach and the Navy should be authorised to take preventive measures, he added.

Fonseka lambasted successive governments for not providing the wherewithal for bringing terrorism to an early end. Terrorism could have been eradicated when General Denzil Kobbekaduwa served the Army, he said, alleging that a certain Defence Secretary had blocked even the supply ammunition required firing practice.