Change in Defense Leadership necessary- Wickremesinghe

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 April 2007, 19:14 GMT]
Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) said Sunday that ethnic conflict could be resolved only through negotiations and not by war. However the military establishment of the country should be entrusted in the hands of an efficient administrator to strengthen the government in the negotiation table, added Mr.Wickremasinghe addressing a gathering after he commissioned the official website of the UNP at party headquarters Sunday, media sources said.

"I recomment Major General (retd) Janaka Perera for the post of Defence Secretary to replace the incumbent officer, as Mr Perera would provide a strong leadership at that office," Mr.Wickremasinghe added.

The government military establishment now wants two more years to curb terrorism in the country. Earlier they said that they could wipe out terrorism within a year, Mr.Wickremasinghe said.