BY BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI
Sri Lanka's outgoing military chief complained that his security detail has been slashed, as speculation continued Friday that he plans to challenge the president in upcoming elections.
Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who led the battle to crush Tamil Tiger rebels and end the island's decades-old civil war in May, announced his resignation last week.
There have been signs of a growing rift between him and the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as rumors swirl about Fonseka's anticipated move into politics.
"My security has been reduced to 25 despite requests made to increase it up to 100 soldiers, considering the threats posed to my life," Fonseka said in a letter seen by The Associated Press on Friday. He has refused to comment on a possible presidential bid.
Fonseka survived a rebel suicide attack three years ago but suffered severe injuries, and was among the top names on the rebels' hit list. Despite the war's end, tight security precautions continue across the country and senior military and government officials are provided hundreds of guards. Roads are closed when they travel.
Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara declined to comment on the number of guards assigned to Fonseka, saying only, "he has been given security."
There have been signs of widening hostility between the government and Fonseka. The general accused the government last week of sidelining him on suspicion he was plotting a coup.
The president has decided to call early elections, hoping to capitalize on positive public sentiment from ending the war. But opposition parties formed a coalition earlier this month and there has been widespread talk that they plan to run Fonseka as their presidential candidate.
No date has been set for the elections.
AP
Sri Lanka's outgoing military chief complained that his security detail has been slashed, as speculation continued Friday that he plans to challenge the president in upcoming elections.
Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who led the battle to crush Tamil Tiger rebels and end the island's decades-old civil war in May, announced his resignation last week.
There have been signs of a growing rift between him and the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as rumors swirl about Fonseka's anticipated move into politics.
"My security has been reduced to 25 despite requests made to increase it up to 100 soldiers, considering the threats posed to my life," Fonseka said in a letter seen by The Associated Press on Friday. He has refused to comment on a possible presidential bid.
Fonseka survived a rebel suicide attack three years ago but suffered severe injuries, and was among the top names on the rebels' hit list. Despite the war's end, tight security precautions continue across the country and senior military and government officials are provided hundreds of guards. Roads are closed when they travel.
Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara declined to comment on the number of guards assigned to Fonseka, saying only, "he has been given security."
There have been signs of widening hostility between the government and Fonseka. The general accused the government last week of sidelining him on suspicion he was plotting a coup.
The president has decided to call early elections, hoping to capitalize on positive public sentiment from ending the war. But opposition parties formed a coalition earlier this month and there has been widespread talk that they plan to run Fonseka as their presidential candidate.
No date has been set for the elections.
AP
තාම කොලඹ ආරක්ශාව මදි කියලා ජාත්යන්තරයට නොකියා කියන්න මේක හරි ලේසි ක්රමයක්නේ,
කියලා
