Big purge in Lanka Army as Rajapakse fears a coup

Feb 01, 2010

Colombo, Feb. 1: Sri Lanka’s Presi-dent Mahinda Rajapakse on Monday sacked a dozen senior military officers whom the defence ministry said were a "direct threat to national security" after last week’s presidential polls.

A military official said it was the Army’s biggest-ever purge and went beyond a 1962 shakeup following a coup attempt by volunteer officers against late Prime Minister Sirima Bandar-anaike. "What we just witnessed is the biggest single shakeup in the Army," said a top official. "The sacking is also coupled with drastic changes in key positions." President Rajapakse had accused the defeated Opposition of planning to assassinate him after he beat former Army Gen. Sarath Fonseka in the January 26 poll. The official said 12 top officers, including three major-generals, were sack-ed to thwart any attempted coup by Gen. Fonseka’s supporters inside the military. —AFP

Amal Jayasinghe

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