Both Secretary Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) and the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva have dismissed claims that Sri Lanka is heading towards a Military Rule.
‘Sri Lanka has a constitution and the armed forces operate as per the constitution,’ he told reporters on Wednesday (11), adding that it is not possible for a military to take charge when a President exists.
‘The military has not intention of taking control. The President is the Commander-In-Chief, so what does the army need to take control,’ said the Army Chief.
The Defence Secretary also dismissed claims of a military rule, and recalled an incident in the 1960s where an attempt was made, but failed due to internal leaks.
“It is impossible to do something like that in Sri Lanka,” he said while adding the armed forces have no such thought as wll.
