Lankan PM asks service chiefs to ‘hold their tongues’

SRI Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed all the three service chiefs ‘‘not to make any policy statements’...

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SRI Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed all the three service chiefs ‘‘not to make any policy statements’’ on the Government’s behalf as it could jeopardise the national security at the time of peace talks with the LTTE.

The PM’s strict instructions came after statements by the Army commander and his Jaffna regional commander to the media on the issue of civilians resettlement within the High Security Zones (HSZS) had put the Government in an awkward situation and alerted the Tamil Tiger rebels on the Government’s negotiating strategy.

At a special meeting attended by Defence Minister Tilak Marapana, Minister Milinda Moragoda, Defence Secretary Austin Fernando, all the three service chiefs and regional commanders of the Army on Thursday, Wickremesinghe said that while the military has to ensure the security of the nation, taking ‘‘policy decisions’’ was a matter for the Government, local Sunday Leader newspaper, known to reflect the Government’s thinking, reported today.

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The controversial issue of civilians resettlement within the Jaffna HSZS faced another blow when Army commander Lt Gen Lional Balagalle had told mediapersons that the security forces have ‘‘conceded the maximum possible’’ and further relaxation of the HSZS would be subjected to de-commissioning of weapons by the LTTE.

Wickremesinghe directed the defence secretary to probe how the military’s de-escalation plan had been leaked to the media.