Victimised officers to be reinstated

by Ranil Wijayapala

The Defence Ministry has given approval to reinstate 11 officers of the Sri Lanka Army and the Sri Lanka Air Force who were politically victimised during the previous regime, Defence Ministry sources said.

According to sources, the committee appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena as the Defence Minister to look into the alleged allegations of political victimisation has recommended the restoration of their ranks, and the promotions of seven Army officers and four Air Force officers after considering their appeals to the committee.

The committee has received 220 appeals and recommended relief for 88 Armed Forces personnel either to be reinstated in their posts and also to pay their salaries from the date of leaving the service due to political victimisation.

The four-member committee appointed by the President was headed by an Additional Secretary to the Defence Ministry who made these recommendations after interviewing the 220 Tri Forces personnel and considering their requests.

Accordingly, if they are now below the retirement age, they will be reinstated in their posts and will be given their salaries and promotions.

Those who are above the retirement age will be compensated accordingly after paying their salaries from the date they were removed from their posts.

A large number of Forces personnel including senior officers in the ranks of Majors General were sent on compulsory retirement or forced to leave their positions soon after the 2010 Presidential election where former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka contested the Presidential election as the common Opposition candidate.