Dear Friends,

Before I left for Trincomalee to ascertain the ground situation in that area

on the 16th of June 2005, I contacted Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, the

Commander Eastern Naval Area and was shocked to hear from him that he had

been recalled to Colombo to give explanations as to why he provided

protection to the controversial Buddha statue in Trincomalee.

The Sinhala people in Trincomalee were poised to attack all the Hindu kovils

in the town, if the Buddha statue was harmed in any way by either the LTTE

or their supporters. It was the timely action taken by Rear Admiral Sarath

Weerasekera that prevented such an eventuality.He should have been praised

by the government for his preemptive action instead of being recalled to

Colombo to give explanations. Why have senior officers in the security

forces if they cannot use their initiative?

Every person in the Security forces have to solemnly declare and afferm /

swear that he will faithfully perform his duties and discharge the functions

of his office in accordance with the Constitution of the Democratic

Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and that he will to the best of his ability

uphold and defend the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of

Sri Lanka.

That being so, article nine in this said Constitution states,

"The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and

accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the

Buddha Sasana, while assuring to all the religions the rights granted by

articles 10 and 14(1)(e)."

Giving protection to a Buddha statue is acting in accordance with article

nine of the Constitution, as it does not affect the rights granted to other

religions by article 10 and 14 (1) (e). Why then was Rear Admiral Sarath

Weerasekera recalled to Colombo to give explanations for his actions?

Please keep all your friends too informed in this regard, because they too

must get to know of the difficulties faced by senior officers in the

security forces when they are performing their duties to uphold and defend

the Constitution of this country in accordance with the official oath or

affermation.

It was because of such interference that I decided not to continue my

services as a member of the security forces way back in 1995.As an officer

of the Sri Lanka Army, I too had solemnly declared and affirmed to uphold

and defend the Constituiton of my country and I was not willing as a senior

army officer to be a mercenary of the political leaders in power.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

Anil