UK sanction: Wartime commander clears Shavendra Silva only

Accuses Jagath Jayasuriya and Wasantha Karannagoda of committing atrocious acts

Says he too lost US green card

Uniformed men should not be made immune from law

In response to UK sanctions on three former war veterans, wartime Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said that such action against former Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva was unjustifiable since he was a frontline commander in the war.

However, he was not critical of sanctions by the UK on former Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya and former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda. 

He cited them as those implicated with wrongdoings that could not be condoned.

He said even he lost his privilege as a US green card holder.

“When I was the Wildlife Minister, I wanted to attend a function in the UK. The High Commission contacted me and requested not to apply for a visa,” he said.

He said uniformed men are not immune from the law of the country, and any atrocious act by them should not go unpunished.