President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed Air Force Chief Roshan Gunathilleke as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in place of Fonseka, who spent 39 years in the army.
Gunathileke, 53, has been given the new appointment in addition to his current post, secretary to the president, Lalith Weeratunga, said. This follows the acceptance of resignation of Fonseka from the post with immediate effect, seen as a rebuff to the former army chief who wanted to be relieved of his duties from December 1.
Fonseka had resigned last week, saying that he felt the government has lost trust in him. In a strongly-worded letter to Rajapaksa, he alleged that he was given the post of CDS, with “no authority”, due to misleading reports of a likely coup in the island.
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