COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has reinstated ten army officers who had been sent on compulsory leave in 2010, for allegedly siding with former Army Commander Gen.Sarath Fonseka, then accused of trying to stage a military coup against President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The reinstated officers are: Maj Gen Mahesh Senanayake, Brig Bimal Dias, Brig Duminda Keppetiwalana, Brig Janaka Mohotti, Brig Athula Hannedige, Brig Wasantha Kumarapperuma,Col.Tilak Ubayawardena, Lt. Col. LJMCP Jayasundara, Capt. RMR Ranaweera, and Capt. WADC Chrishantha.
President Sirisena disapproved of the sacking and jailing of acknowledged “war hero” Gen.Fonseka on trumped up, politically inspired charges, and the treatment meted to army officers thought to be close to him.
In his election manifesto, Sirisena had said that he would restore to Gen.Fonseka all the privileges taken away from him after a Court Martial found him guilty of the charges against him. His quick trial and the incarceration that followed, invited world-wide condemnation. That led to his early release. But Fonseka had to wait until Sirisena came to power in 2015 to get back his rank, pension and medals. Other officers had to wait a little longer to secure justice.