REFUGEE

Sources from Temple Trees say that former Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshall Jayalath Weerakkody has agreed to accept the post of Defence Secretary following a request made by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

Jayalath Weerakkody, who currently serves as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Pakistan, was requested by the government to resign from his post as Air Force Chief following various allegations leveled against him.

He was accused fraud and corruption following the controversy surrounding the purchase of aircraft from the UK during his tenure as Air Force Chief. It was reported that although funds were released for the purchase of two aircraft, only one had been purchased.

Weerakkody was also accused of having an extra marital affair with an Air Force squadron leader named Gamage. The Borella Police had to take disciplinary action against Weerakkody for drunk driving when he ran over a lorry cleaner at Borella junction on his way back from a party in Hilton, which had attended with Gamage.

Sub Inspector Bandara from the Borella Police handled the case at the time.

However, then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requested Weerakkody to resign from the post of Air Force Chief for having an illicit affair misusing powers vested with his office.

Weerakkody’s consort, Gamage’s husband, Nishantha Gamage was an air force officer at the time. He died when a deteriorated AN32 aircraft he was ordered to fly crashed during the flight. However, it was later revealed that Jayalath Weerakkody had ordered Nishantha Gamage to fly the aircraft that was in poor condition.

Sources from the Defence Ministry said the forces chiefs have already decided to object to any move to appoint some one with a bad record like Weerakkody as the Defence Secretary.

Meanwhile, Director General of the Media Center for National Security, Lakshman Hulugalle has already launched a media campaign to prevent Weerakkody from being appointed as the Defence Secretary.