Why would Karunasena Hettiarachchi lose defence secretary position?

 Apr 28, 2017

Defence secretary Karunasena Hettiachchi is likely to lose his position. The most immediate reason is his opposition to a proposal made during president Maithripala Sirisena’s Russia visit to buy a warship from that country, reports say.

Refusing to sign the related agreement, Hettiarachchi said it was unnecessary to buy a warship at a time when there was no war, and that if considered essential, a warship could be bought from India at a one-fourth of the price of the Russian one. This has caused the president to have an animosity against the defence secretary. He has asked Hettiarachchi to accept the ambassador position in Germany, and he is due to leave for Germany, unwillingly though, to take up that position.

 

The defence secretary position that will fall vacant is to be filled by Kingsley Fernando, a very close friend of the president and a resident of Wennappuwa. A wealthy businessman, who owns a media network and addressed as ‘boss’ by the president, is said to be behind all these.