2009-09-26 | 7.00 PM
Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka had tired to hand over his letter of resignation on the 25th, but had later changed his mind following advice received by several leading monks, reliable sources said.

General Fonseka had decided to resign following the continuous intervention in his limited affairs by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse.

Upon hearing the news of General Fonseka’s decision to resign, the Defence Secretary who is in the US had immediately informed the President about it. The monks had contacted General Fonseka and advised him to change his mind following a request made by the President. The President had been on his way to attend a meeting in Hakmana when he was informed of General
Fonseka’s decision to resign. After many months, the President at the meeting spoke of General Fonseka and praised his work.

A senior Army officer told Lanka News Web that a massive conflict between General Fonseka and the Defence Secretary was in the making following a proposal made by the General at the Security Council to investigate into the alleged billion rupee fraud that had taken place during military procurements from foreign countries through Lanka Logistics.

General Fonseka had openly told the Security Council that since terrorism has been wiped out from the country, there was nothing wrong in investigating into military procurements and making it public as it would also help build the image of the defence establishment in the country.

However, General Fonseka had decided to temporarily suspend his decision to resign following the advice from the monks, but had also informed his friends that if Gotabhaya Rajapakse continued to harass him, he would have to make a firm decision after making a public announcement.