FONSEKA’S WHITE FLAG SPEECH- 2ND DAY

FONSEKA’S WHITE FLAG DAY CASE 2ND DAY

FREDERICA CRIED IN FRONT OF ME.
FREDERICA IS NOT SUITABLE ENOUGH TO SERVE EVEN TEA IN A MEDIA INSTITUTION
CORRUPT ACTIVITIES OF THE DEFENCE SECRETARY
JOHNSTON AND LAKHSMAN DISTORTED MY STATEMENTS

On the 2nd day of the white Flag day case’ Sarath Fonseka disclosed what exactly happened with the SUNDAY LEADER newspaper. Although Frederica Jansz had said that she has had an interview with me, she did not take any notes during the discussion. She had written arbitrarily as she wished which resulted in serious and unnecessary complications.’ The speech categorised under different topics are appended below:

HOW THEY LOST TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN ME:
‘At a discussion held in the office of the Defense Secretary attended by the Chief of Defense Staff, the Defense Secretary himself and all Commanders of the forces, it was revealed by me that in all the countries in the world the Chief Defense Secretary has been entrusted with the responsibilities and the task of conducting all operational activities. The Defense Secretary replied by saying that it however cannot happen in this country. The Defense Secretary said it was a very dangerous matter. From that I that knew it was difficult to convince the President and his brother the Defense Secretary and cannot proceed with confidence to discharge the duties of an Army Commander, although having controlled the entire army impartially with proper discipline. I felt very sorry as they have not had any appreciation for the immense services rendered. I was once asked by the Media Secretary Lakhsman Hulugalle whether I had informed the print and electronic media personnel not to publish any news about me.
 This is I am certain had been made on the instructions of the President and the Defense Secretary. I felt very unpleasant and disgraced on hearing this fabricated story. In the list of persons eligible to contest the General Election 2010 from the opposition parties my name was also included. After which several statements were made. At that time I had not consented to any party or person about my willingness. At that time I had drawn very appropriate plans and given to the Defense Secretary in regard to the resettlement of about 300.000 displaced persons and those soldiers who were living a hard life in jungles and under bridges and culverts. The implementation of my plans, were totally ignored by the President and the Defense Secretary. Also plans to implement to draw attention to the fallen heroes in regard to their welfare and those disabled through injuries too were drawn. The welfare which was a priority was not a concern to them.’

CORRUPTIONS COMMITTED BY THE DEFERENCE SECRETARY DISCLOSED:
‘During the tenure of my service as the Army Commander, the Defense Minister and the Defense Secretary adhered to various corrupt activities. One example is the purchasing of 4 bullet proof BMW vehicles at their sole discretion. One BMW vehicle valued at Rs 45 m was bought for Rs 88m.Another more sophisticated vehicle a bullet proof Benz vehicles were bought for the SAARC summit at Rs 55m.All arms and ammunition purchased for the war were made at the sole discretion of the Private Secretary to the Defense Secretary and the Defence Secretary. The army Commander’s duty was only to inform his requirements. As a typical example at the commencement of the Ealam war 4 a 130mm artillery bullet was purchased at the rate of US $ 250, while it had reached to US $ 650 at the time the war ended within just 3 years. It is learnt that still payments have not been made for some artillery bullets imported.’

I WAS PREVENTED FROM ENTERING POLITICS
“When I was performing the duties of the Chief Defense of Staff rumours spread like wild fire that I was to contest at the Presidential Elections. Although I had not decided to contest, the President at Defense council Meetings and at several other meetings had made a lot of intimidations at me .As I was sporting a Forces uniform I had not disclosed to anyone about such an intention.
One day president’s Pundits comprising of delegates like Gamini Wickramasinghe, Chairman of Bank of Ceylon, Rajitha Senaratne, Patali Champika Ranawaka came to visit me, while Ven Elle Gunawansa Thera and Ven Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera made visits to my office. They made a plea to me to refrain from entering politics. I knew very well they came on the instructions of the President. Later the Permanent Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunga visited me and spoke to me for about 2 hours. He wanted to know about the conflict I had with the President and Gotabhaya. He also wanted me to confirm whether I had any intention of joining politics. I told categorically that as long as I am in forces uniform I will not get indulged in politics, which was the same answer I conveyed to the above personnel as well”

WHAT JOHNSTON AND LAKHSMAN SAID WAS CONTRDICTING
“The statement made by me that I would not be entering politics and contesting the Presidential Election was not correctly interpreted by M/s Johnston Fernando and Lakhsman Seneviratne. My stand had been distorted by them. On 11.11.2009 the President questioned me about my problems. I boldly told him point blank about all what I knew well and the enormous damage he and Gotabhaya had done to me. However he denied and did not accept my views. As everything had happened with his knowledge I opted to resign from my post of ‘The Chief of Defence Staff’. Immediately on the following day i.e. 12.11.2009 without informing my wife and daughters I tendered my resignation. On November 16th after serving the Army for 40 years I bid goodbye to my uniform.
As I was then a civil citizen I received several invitations from a large cross section of people in the likes of V.I.P.’s ,reputed businessmen, members of the opposition parties, several civil organisations and the general public to contest the Presidential election as the common opposition candidate. With so much backing and the injustice meted out to me although I hated politics I consented to contest with a view to change the present corrupt political culture in the event I was elected.”

AFTER I DECIDED TO CONTEST MY PERSONALITY, CHARACTER WERE HUMILATED AND SMASHED
“After winning the prolonged LTTE war, the President, Gotabhaya and other reputed politicians had gone around the country while celebrating the victory, applauding me by quoting what the Indian Defence Consultant had said about me. He had said that I could be compared with any of the best Army Commanders in the World and had hailed and acclaimed my leadership.
However, the statements made were forgotten very soon, when I consented to contest in the Presidential election as the common opposition candidate. They commenced a campaign of large magnitude to defame my character and humiliate me to draw the attention of the proposed voters.
I never gave up. I started my campaign around 5 a.m. until 1 a.m. in the morning and during my meetings at distant places too I had media interviews with both local and foreign media personnel.”