AGs advice sought on lifelong security for military officers - PM

Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake categorically denied that the security of Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka had been removed responding to a JVP statement in Parliament yesterday.

The Prime Minister also stated that the security of the officers of the security forces are provided in accordance with the need and evaluation of the risk.

The Prime Minister further stated that he had looked into the possibility of providing security throughout to Army officers for the rest of their lives after retirement. But there was a clash with the twelfth provision of the constitution for providing such security.

He added that the Attorney General would provide a report on this matter on Wednesday as he (Premier) consulted him in this respect.

He said he would make a statement after he received the report.

The Prime Minister made these remarks in response to a special statement made by JVP parliamentary group leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on an earlier date with reference to providing security for chiefs of forces after their retirement.