Some ex soldiers appear from woodwork, alleging unfair treatment by Fonseka

With only two weeks to the presidential election allegations against Common Opposition Candidate General Sarath Fonseka and the president—- the two main candidates —— are being made by various quarters. Some of the allegations against the president such as misuse of public funds have been highlighted in this newspaper. As far as the Fonseka camp is concerned, this week some former military personnel who had previously engaged in bitter legal disputes with General Fonseka came forward alleging that the retired general has cost them their careers. Last night these ex military personnel did the rounds on the local television channels. Their story has been aired last evening in many TV channels.
The gist of these TV allegations are highlighted below: (These persons also made these claims to this newspaper very briefly.) We are unable to verify the veracity of these claims as the charge sheets against these officers have not been shown to us. We also contacted General Fonseka regarding these claims, but he has so far been unable to respond to them, being as he is on the campaign trail.
The TV footage carried claims of former soldiers Lt. Col. G. S. Perera and Major Lakshman Palipane, alleging some adverse disciplinary action against them by Fonseka, they say, when Fonseka was a senior officer and finally commander of the army.
The two officers allege they took legal action against being discharged from the army - - unfairly, they allege, at the instigation of Sarath Fonska..
Perera alleges that when he took disciplinary action against a certain volunteer corps soldier, “Sarath Fonseka called me and said he wanted me to come to Colombo and meet him.’’ Perera says told Fonseka he had no option but to discharge the soldier concerned at the Dehiatthakandiya camp.
“At that time Fonseka was transferred to Army HQ and before he left he recommended to send me on compulsory leave on the basis of ‘bad behaviour,’’ he says, summarily. Then he says was asked to join the volunteer HQ.
“Former Army Commander Shantha Kottegoda asked me about these charges and after looking into the matter he cancelled Sarath Fonseka’s recommendation to send me on no-pay leave,” Perera said.
Perera alleges that Fonseka became the Army Commander and resurrected the case. Using his power as the Commander Fonseka he stripped him (Perera) of his privileges and sent him on compulsory leave without pay, he says. He says he went to court against the dismissal but his case was dismissed on technical grounds only.
He claims the courts told him that there is nothing they can do. “So for almost four years I am on compulsory leave without any pay.” Major Palipane says “Army Commander Shantha Kottegoda asked me to transfer a certain soldier at Palakelle to Colombo and after Fonseka became the Army Commander I was discharged from military service without a pension over this issue.’’
He says the court case on this matter is pending.