Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has come out strongly against President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent remarks at the National War Heroes’ Commemoration, rejecting the President’s claim that all sides in the civil war were “fighting for peace.”
Speaking during a televised interview with Hiru TV, the former Army Commander sharply criticized the notion, calling it both historically inaccurate and deeply insensitive.
“You cannot attack the Sri Maha Bodhi for peace. You cannot attack the Dalada Maligawa for peace,” Fonseka stated, referencing two of the most sacred sites in Sri Lanka that were targeted during the war.
He argued that such violent acts could never be justified as efforts toward peace, and questioned the credibility of those who suggest otherwise. “Given the way [President Anura] associated with Prabhakaran, no one would believe that he is coming for peace,” Fonseka added, referring to the late leader of the LTTE.
While he acknowledged that he initially remained silent and listened to the President’s speech, Fonseka said he could not stay quiet in the face of what he views as a distortion of history.
“You are not a madman and jump up and say that is wrong,” he remarked, suggesting that while he allowed the speech to proceed without interruption, he believes it’s now necessary to publicly express his disagreement.
Fonseka’s rebuke is one of the strongest criticisms yet from a prominent military figure against the President’s attempts at post-war reconciliation messaging. The remarks are likely to fuel further political debate about how Sri Lanka should interpret and remember its decades-long conflict.
