Act of retribution for sins:

Fonseka harassed Army officials for personal reasons

Hiran H.Senewiratne

General Sarath Fonseka harassed several Army officials for personal reasons and now under custody as an act of retribution for his sins, Chamilla Nishanthi Wickramage, wife of Regimental Sergeant Major S.A.S Wijetunga said. She said last year General Sarath Fonseka then Army Commander sacked her husband from his post by framing bogus charges that he was harassing a woman soldier known as Corporal Wijetunga and also selling arms to the LTTE, while serving as a ground force soldier attached to the Gajaba Regiment.

She said her husband was honest and faithful to her and he had advised a woman corporal about her some behaviour and subsequently she went and complained to General Fonseka, after that he was transferred to another place. After 21 days he was imprisoned after harassing him. Later we was released from the cell and sack him from the job, she said.

Wickramage said she has two children and had to mortgage everything to feed her children and look after their education. Finally she did not have even Rs 25 to give her child for school activity . At least she called General Fonseka and asked some relief but they did not listen to her grievances, she said.

Her husband filed a Court case over his removal, which is now pending before the Court of Appeal. “Now General Fonseka’s and his wife are facing the same plight but when she was suffering not a single person came to her rescue, Wickramage said.

Ajantha Malpana, wife of deceased Major J.C Malpana said General Sarath Fonseka harassed her following the death of her husband for more than 14 years.

She said General Fonseka was very jealous about their unit and their activities on behalf of the welfare of the Army personnel. After the death of her husband he ordered me to vacate the house immediately.

She requested few months to occupy the house because of her son’s GCE O/L Examination. While she was occupying the house all utilities including water and electricity supplies were disconnected.

Malpana said free facilities were also stopped, which made the life difficult to them. Today, General Fonseka and his wife facing the same plight which she considers to be a retribution, she said.

Nishanthi Kuburage wife of deceased Sergeant Ruwan Yakandawela said her husband’s monument was destroyed by villagers soon after the assassination attempt of General Fonseka by the LTTE.

‘Some people accused my deceased husband that he had links with the LTTE to assassinate General Fonseka and therefore the people in the village destroyed my husband’s monument. But incumbent Army Commander took the initiative to repair it,” she said.