News
|
||||
Ravi
J removed from defence advisor post
Mr. Jayewardene last night confirmed to The Sunday Times that soon after the alliance agreement was signed he was informed by Defence Secretary Cyril Herath verbally that he had been removed from the post and that the letter was to follow. Mr. Jayewardene, reputed for forming the elite Special Task Force (STF), the police para-military Commando unit that was responsible for combatting the LTTE in Batticaloa and Ampara and providing VVIP security, said that he believed that the JVP was responsible for getting him removed. He said President Chandrika Kumaratunga was aware that he was holding that position even after she took over the Defence Ministry, and he was not removed. He was appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to the position about a year back where he was involved in upgrading the services of ministerial security. Mr. Jayewardene was also preparing a new training programme for the Army. JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa denied his party's involvement in getting Mr. Jayewardene removed from his post. "The removal of Mr. Jayewardene from the post is totally up to the President. She may have believed that he was passing on information to the government," he said. "The signing of the MoU and the removal of Mr. Jayewardene have no connection. President has the power to remove him," he said. Mr. Jayewardene was attached to the Defence Ministry in an honorary position, but was entitled to a vehicle and driver. He served as National Security Advisor to his father, President Jayewardene, and was also in charge of his personal security after 1983. |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
