Army Commander tells Field Marshal not to settle

Personal scores at army’s expense.

Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake yesterday said that personal vendettas shouldn’t be settled at the expense of the army.

The Army Chief said so when The Island sought his views on recent allegations levelled by former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka against General Jagath Jayasuriya in respect of the latter’s conduct during his tenure as Security Forces Commander, Vanni (Aug 2007 to July 2009).

Lt. Gen. Senanayake said that though he had been subjected to humiliation during Lt. Gen. Jayasuriya’s tenure as the Commander, he never sought to take revenge.

The army respected Field Marshal Fonseka for invaluable services rendered as wartime Army Chief, he said.

Recalling over 28,000 officers and men had laid down their lives for the motherland, Lt. Gen. Senanayake regretted Field Marshal Fonseka’s recent outburst.

Senanayake fled the country soon after Fonseka’s defeat at January 2010 presidential poll and returned after the change of government in January 2015 to succeed Lt. Gen. Chrishanthe de Silva