New Chief of Staff appointed for SLA

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 January 2010, 14:53 GMT]
Former military spokesman Major General Daya Ratnayake has been appointed the Chief of Staff (CoS) of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) with immadiate effect on Saturday, defense sources from Colombo said. Major General Daya Ratnayake was earlier the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation.

Former Chief of Staff Mendaka Samarasinghe has been transferred to the Joint Operation Headquarters.

Several other changes have also been made to high level positions in the Sri Lanka Army.

Mendaka Samarasinghe, who was widely believed to be loyal to former army Chief General Sarath Fonseka, was appointed Chief of Staff (CoS) just last July.

Major General Samarasinghe had been serving as Commander, Security Forces, Jaffna until he was appointed the new CoS after the new Army Commander took office.