REFUGEE

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has told the Ravaya newspaper that General Sarath Fonseka harbored immense hatred towards him. He had made this statement when the Ravaya newspaper had questioned him if the General has been provided with adequate security after his retirement.

The newspaper report further states, “Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told Ravaya newspaper that although it was Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge who handled the security provided to the former Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka, the General was angry with him.”

The Defence Secretary has also said that since the General’s request for the bullet proof vehicle used by the Army Commander be handed over to him could not be granted since he was retiring from the service, the government had taken steps to give him the second bullet proof vehicle used by the Army Commander.

He noted that since the General was assigned a larger contingent of security personnel even more than the President, he could not be provided with a similar contingent after his retirement.

Gotabhaya Rajapksa has said the General had spread a false story about the request to return his official residence. The Defence Secretary has said since the General was in possession of two official residences assigned to the Army Commander, he was asked to return one in writing. He also said that he had heard the General was planning to move into a rented house on the 20th.