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. |