Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COLOMBO1030
2009-11-12 14:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
HANGING CHOD? GENERAL SARATH FONSEKA SUBMITS HIS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001030
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: HANGING CHOD? GENERAL SARATH FONSEKA SUBMITS HIS
RESIGNATION
REF: A. COLOMBO 1019
B. COLOMBO 1018
Classified By: AMBASSADOR Patricia A. Butenis. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001030
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: HANGING CHOD? GENERAL SARATH FONSEKA SUBMITS HIS
RESIGNATION
REF: A. COLOMBO 1019
B. COLOMBO 1018
Classified By: AMBASSADOR Patricia A. Butenis. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) Chief of Defense (CHOD) General Sarath Fonseka
submitted his resignation to President Rajapaksa on November
12. Senior military officials in the Office of Chief of
Defense Staff (OCDS),a Ministry of Defense official, United
National Party (UNP) insiders and a retired military general
with contacts in the military confirmed that the resignation
was submitted and accepted by the president. The OCDS
official, a member of General Fonseka's staff, also stated
that the current Commander of the Sri Lankan AIR FORCE (SLAF)
Air Chief Marshall Roshan Goonetileke, viewed as a man with
little personal or professional ambition, will become the
next CHOD. This would follow military precedent, as he is
the senior serving flag officer. The AIR FORCE Commander's
replacement would likely be AIR Vice Marshall P.B.
Premachandra, an ethnic Tamil. If selected, Premachandra's
elevation would likely be welcomed as an important symbolic
gesture of Sinhalese-Tamil reconciliation and empowerment.
2. (C) With this resignation, Fonseka is now free to enter
politics. Rampant speculation on any such plans has
dominated conversations in Colombo political circles over the
past several weeks, with many assuming he would run against
Mahinda Rajapaksa in presidential elections. President
Rajapaksa has not yet announced presidential elections but is
expected to speak at an SLFP party conference on Sunday,
November 15. Many local observers believe he would announce
at that meeting that elections would be held soon, perhaps as
early as January. Fonseka,s announcement prior to that
speech leaves open the possibility that the president might
hold off on calling for a presidential election, which does
not need to be held for another two years.
BUTENIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: HANGING CHOD? GENERAL SARATH FONSEKA SUBMITS HIS
RESIGNATION
REF: A. COLOMBO 1019
B. COLOMBO 1018
Classified By: AMBASSADOR Patricia A. Butenis. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) Chief of Defense (CHOD) General Sarath Fonseka
submitted his resignation to President Rajapaksa on November
12. Senior military officials in the Office of Chief of
Defense Staff (OCDS),a Ministry of Defense official, United
National Party (UNP) insiders and a retired military general
with contacts in the military confirmed that the resignation
was submitted and accepted by the president. The OCDS
official, a member of General Fonseka's staff, also stated
that the current Commander of the Sri Lankan AIR FORCE (SLAF)
Air Chief Marshall Roshan Goonetileke, viewed as a man with
little personal or professional ambition, will become the
next CHOD. This would follow military precedent, as he is
the senior serving flag officer. The AIR FORCE Commander's
replacement would likely be AIR Vice Marshall P.B.
Premachandra, an ethnic Tamil. If selected, Premachandra's
elevation would likely be welcomed as an important symbolic
gesture of Sinhalese-Tamil reconciliation and empowerment.
2. (C) With this resignation, Fonseka is now free to enter
politics. Rampant speculation on any such plans has
dominated conversations in Colombo political circles over the
past several weeks, with many assuming he would run against
Mahinda Rajapaksa in presidential elections. President
Rajapaksa has not yet announced presidential elections but is
expected to speak at an SLFP party conference on Sunday,
November 15. Many local observers believe he would announce
at that meeting that elections would be held soon, perhaps as
early as January. Fonseka,s announcement prior to that
speech leaves open the possibility that the president might
hold off on calling for a presidential election, which does
not need to be held for another two years.
BUTENIS