SF defends Army Commander against Ranil’s criticism

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said he could not agree with former Prime Minister UNP National List MP Ranil Wickremesinghe for his recent remarks criticising the security forces for what he said ‘overlooking the Cabinet’ in anti- pandemic operations.

“One cannot agree with the former Prime Minister who criticised the army commander in his inaugural speech in Parliament.“i remember Mr. Wickremesinghe asking me to close down high security zones in 2002. I lodged a complaint against him to the then President Chandrika Kumaratunga,” he told a press conference.

Also he said a future SJB government will investigate into the wrong doings of those officers involved.

“We have seen some CID officers involved in wrong doings such as abducting Asela Sampath who is the President of Canteen Owners’ Association recently.the actions of such officers will be investigated into, when we come to power,” Field Marshal Fonseka said.

At the same time he said he cannot agree with the statement made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that state intelligence services have been strengthened.“One cannot strengthen the state intelligence services by giving appointments to his or her close associates,” he said.(YOHAN PERERA)