Sri Lanka's ex-army chief calls for removal of heads of armed forces

Sri Lanka's former army commander on Tuesday called for the removal of the commanders of the three armed forces, alleging that they were involved in a coup attempt a day after last month's presidential elections.

Speaking to reporters in Colombo, former army commander Sarath Fonseka urged the country's new government to take disciplinary action against the commanders of the country's army, navy and airforce for their alleged involvement in the coup attempt by the previous government headed by Mahinda Rajapakse.

Fonseka recently received a presidential pardon by newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena after being jailed and isolated by under the previous leadership.

He was court-martialed by a military court in 2010 to 30 months in prison and stripped off ranks, titles and medals for illegal procurement during his time in charge of the army.

Fonseka, who was the army commander at the time Sri Lanka ended its 30 year civil war, fell out with former president Mahinda Rajapakse and former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse after he challenged Rajapakse in the 2010 presidential elections.

He was imprisoned soon after but received a pardon by Rajapakse in 2012. He however remained sidelined since then.

The newly elected Sri Lanka government has already lodged a complaint against several members of the former government including former President Rajapakse for allegedly plotting a coup in the early hours of Jan. 9, after initial results revealed the victory of President Sirisena.

Sri Lanka's former foreign minister and several others members have already been questioned by the island's police over the alleged attempt. Endi