|
Title: General Sarath Fonseka - Sri Lanka Army 1971- 2009 View count: 2702 Rating: 5.0 (7 ratings) Description: Resignation: http://noealaminsl.blogspot.com/2009/11/general-sarath-fonseka-resignation.html United We Stand, Divided We Fall. Sri Lankans must look to reunite General Sarath Fonseka and President Mahinda Rajapakse. We need to be united to combat the 5th Eelam war-Internationally. These two patriots have opened a new chapter in Sri Lankan history. Buddhist monks and JHU should not remain silence at this crucial moment when nation is going to be divided. This is not about Sinhala nationalism, this is about our country. We urge MR to review General's resignation and rectify short comings and discuss with General (SF) how the country should go further. Sri Lankans will be delighted if MR & SF are on one side and work together rather than splitted and throwing mud to each other and destroy this great nation! Perhaps considering a offer of Prime Minister/ Minister of Defence post to SF would be a win-win situation! -NoEalamInSL- Profile: General Sarath Fonseka General Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka (born 18 December 1950) (known as Sarath Fonseka) RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc, SLSR is a former Sri Lanka Army officer and the current Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka. As Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Fonseka played an instrumental role in ending the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. Fonseka served as an officer in the Sri Lanka Army throughout the 26 year civil war, culminating in a term as commander from December 6, 2005 - July 15, 2009. As commander, he oversaw the the final phase of the civil war which resulted in the defeat of the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organization. Fonseka has been described as Sri Lanka's most successful army commander] and his run of significant military victories against the LTTE during Eelam War IV led the Indian National Security Advisor Mayankote Kelath Narayanan to describe him as the "best army commander in the world".[2] On April 25, 2006 Fonseka survived an assassination attempt when an LTTE suicide bomber attacked his motorcade.[3] Following the end of the war he was appointed Chief of Defence Staff, a post from which he will resign effective December 1, 2009. There is an ongoing campaign to have General Fonseka run against President Mahinda Rajapakse at the next Sri Lankan Presidential Election. His resignation from the military is believed to be a step in this direction. Military career in the Sri Lankan Army Fonseka has held a large number of various staff appointments including the office of Chief of Staff of the Sri Lankan army, the post he relinquished to take reins as Commander of the Army. One contribution as Deputy General Officer Commanding consisted of 'Riviresa', to capture Jaffna from the Tamil Tigers, in December 1995. Later, troops commanded by Fonseka offered stiff resistance to Tamil Tigers in 2000, following the fall of Elephant Pass, ultimately having to flee since they were unable to withstand the attack. Fonseka, was also involved in the operations 'Balawegaya' and 'Jayasikuru', which led to the capture of the Elephant Pass and Mankulam. The 6th Battalion of his Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, which was under siege at Elephant Pass in 1991, repulsed the LTTE attack with reinforcements. He was wounded in 1993 in the Yaldewee operation. As a Colonel, Fonseka commanded the 23 Brigade of the Sri Lankan Army at Polonnaruwa in 1993. Among other appointments, he held Colonel, General Staff Army Headquarters, Sri Lankan Army; Centre Commandant, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, Brigade Commander in Operation Ballavegaya, Deputy Commandant - 5 Brigade Group, Mannar and Coordinating Officer for Gampaha Gum Gumaga. Defeating the LTTE On 18th May 2009, the Sri Lanka Army, under the leadership of Gen. Fonseka, together with the Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force, completely defeated the LTTE after 26 years of civil war.[5] "Midnight Express" In 1993, as the Jaffna Fort was under siege for a long period, the then Colonel G.S.C. Fonseka led troops in the "Midnight Express" (not a train name) operation to rescue the besieged troops. Incidentally, the incumbent Secretary of Defence Lieutenant Colonel Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was with him. Several hundred soldiers were saved in this operation. Suicide bomb attack On 25 April 2006, Lt. General Fonseka survived an LTTE suicide bomb attack by a pregnant Tamil woman who infiltrated the army base by attending the regular maternity clinic provided for civilians at the army base military hospital[6], in which he was seriously injured and nine others were killed. The bomber had infiltrated the heavily-secured Sri Lankan army headquarters in Colombo and attacked the General's limousine when he was on his way to the officer's mess. The General was rushed first to the military hospital at the headquarters and then transferred to the Colombo General Hospital and later flown to Singapore for treatment, and resumed his duties in July. ------- NoEalamInSL on You Tube, Facebook, Blogspot Tags: general fonseka, general sarath fonseka, sri lanka, sri lanka news, sri lanka war, ltte, tamil eealm, eealm war iv, Author: NoEalamInSL |
