A recent statement by retired General, Sarath Fonseka that he has never been defeated in his military career and was a fearless man  has come in for severe criticism in defence circles which are aware of his fear to accompany President Mahinda Rajapaksa to  Kilinochchi this year before the conclusion of the LTTE war.

Having cleared the Kilinochchi district of LTTE terrorism, defence circles recalled that President Rajapaksa was eager to visit Kilinochchi and had intimated his desire to Gen. Fonseka who was the Army Commander.

Gen. Fonseka had warned the President to give up the idea as he (Fonseka) had fear to go Kilinochchi as the war was yet on and had confessed he too had not been there for a long time.

The President had convinced Gen.Fonseka saying not to worry or fear as he (Fonseka) would be in the company of the President. Finally Fonseka had acceded reluctantly to the request of the President retaining fear in his mind.

President Rajapajsa who visited Kilinochchi entered history by being  only of Head of State to visit the war torn district during the cruel war.
Defence circles claimed that the President who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Tri-Services displayed that he was a brave military commander to  his troops while being as astute political leader.

They further said that when Commander-in-Chief,President Rajapaksa declared war on the LTTE over the Mavil-Aru incident, the Army Commander,  then LT.Gen.Sarath Fonseka was  nowhere in the scene being hospitalised after  the LTTE attack on him in the precincts of Army Headquarters.

Even during the final days of the LTTE war, Fonseka had not visited the battlefront they claimed adding that Fonseka preferred to issue directives from his Colombo based office.

With regard to Gen. Fonseka's statement that he had never been defeated, defence circles recalled the three setbacks the troops under him suffered at Muhamalai that cost the lives of nearly six hundred soldiers.