Untitled Document

Front Page

Another extension for Army Chief
By Our Defence Correspondent
The Government is likely to allow Army Commander Lionel Balagalle to serve an extended term in his office and also officiate as Chief of Defence Staff of the Joint Operations Headdquarters.

Lt. Gen. Balagalle is due to retire as Commander of the Army on June 14 when his extended term expires. The post of Chief of Defence Staff fell vacant after Gen. Rohan de S. Daluwatte relinquished office. He left for the United States on a private visit on Friday. Though he has been named Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Brazil, procedural formalities are holding back his appointment.

Highly placed Government sources say Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has discussed with President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga the subject of an extended term for Lt. Gen. Balagalle. These sources say he will be given a specific period after which he is to take over as Chief of Defence Staff. Until then he is to be responsible for both positions.

No formal appointment or extension of his term has been officially announced so far. But the first official indication emerged when Gen. Daluwatte, who was quitting as CDS, was told by Defence Secretary Austin Fernando to hand over duties to Lt. Gen. Balagalle.

Fears of a possible delay were the talking point in defence circles yesterday. Whilst Lt. Gen. Balagalle will retire on Friday, there was only four working days left for appointments to be officially announced. Defence Minister Tilak Marapana will leave today for China leading an official delegation.

Back to Front Page