This Article is From Feb 01, 2010

Senior Sri Lankan Army officers dismissed

Colombo: Sri Lanka on Monday sacked 12 senior military officers for being a "threat to national security" and hatching "political conspiracy" during the just-concluded presidential polls.

Sources said President Mahinda Rajapaksa sent the officers on "compulsory retirement" for hatching a "political conspiracy" during the January 26 polls that saw incumbent Rajapaksa trouncing his former Army Chief Gen Sarath Fonseka, who was the joint Opposition candidate.

The sources said the officers included three major generals and two brigadiers. They were accused of interfering in politics during the polls.

The Lankan Defence Ministry in a statement confirmed that some senior officers were "sent on compulsory retirement" because they were considered a "threat to national security".

Rajapakse is also understood to have transferred several senior military officers loyal to the former Army General who he defeated in elections.
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