General Fonseka Bids Farewell to Take up CDS Appointment
COMMANDER of the Army General Sarath Fonseka who added an indelible chapter to the military history in Sri Lanka after crushing LTTE terrorism handed over the office of the Commander to his successor, Major General Jagath Jayasuriya this morning (14) in accordance with military traditions. General Sarath Fonseka is to take reins as new Chief of Defence Staff tomorrow (15) at the Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH) after a formal military ceremony. Tuesday (14) morning’s ceremony at Army Headquarters was meant to bid farewell to the outgoing Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka.
MAJOR General Jagath Jayasuriya USP ndu psc, the newly appointed Commander of the Army is to assume office on Wednesday (15) as the 19th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army. His Excellency, the President Mahinda Rajapakse handed over the appointment to Major General Jayasuriya on Sunday (12) where he made a few more similar appointments in the defence establishment including that of the Chief of Defence Staff and the National Security Advisor to the President.
FORMER Commander of the Army General Sarath Fonseka, Now the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) assumed duties in his office at the Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH) Wednesday (15) morning. New CDS, after inspecting the Guard Turnout, received the salute given in front of the JOH and received a tri-service Guard of Honour. The outgoing CDS Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, in the company of Army, Navy and Air Force commanders and the Inspector General of Police, thereafter welcomed General Sarath Fonseka at the entrance to the JOH and accompanied .....
SRI LANKA Army’s 19th Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya USP ndu psc took office this morning (15) amidst religious blessings and formal military honours. Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya was warmly received at the gateway to the Commander’s Secretariat for inspection of the Guard Turn-out, to be followed by a Guard of Honour, offered by Commander’s own Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps. As glittering Army and Regimental flags were fluttering in the gentle morning breeze, the new Commander in the company of the parade commander inspected the Guard of Honour in line with military tradition and accepted the salute. Minutes after it the new Commander shook hands with his Principal Staff Officers who in return greeted him. 
THE JAFFNA farmers were some of the richest groups of the country especially from 1970 to 1977. They were generally hardworking people at all times. During this period the Jaffna farmers cultivated rice, chilly, red onion, potato, vegetables, fruits including the fine grapes at Urumpirai that were sent to Colombo. The destruction the LTTE brought to the country during the past 30 years brought disaster to the lives, property, of the whole country. The once prosperous Jaffna farmer and trader became mere slaves to this ruthless terrorist organisation and were compelled to pay extortion money to the LTTE.
OUTGOING Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, his new successor, General Sarath Fonseka, newly appointed President’s National Security Advisor, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and New Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya made courtesy calls on the Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa at his office Wednesday (15) evening. All of them expressed their gratitude to the Defence Secretary for the cooperation and unstinted support given to them in the execution of their duties during the peak of the Eelam War just ended. 
SRI LANKA’S 26-year civil war between the Government and the LTTE came to a dramatic end in May with a decisive military victory and the killing of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the Tiger leader. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the man who tamed the Tigers. President Mahinda Rajapaksa categorically rejected allegations about the violation of human rights in civil war between the Government and the LTTE. “I reject that totally. There was no violation of human rights. There were no civilian casualties. If I did that, it wouldn’t have taken two and a half years to finish the war. I would have done it in a few hours. These are all propaganda, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his extensive interview with The Time on July 10.