SLFP stalwart Minister S.B. Dissanayake said President Maithripala Sirisena was not serious when he offered the 'Overall Commander post' to Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.
"I was at the Cabinet meeting. I don't think the President was serious. The President asked Sarath Fonseka if he liked to be the Army Commander again. No one took it seriously," Dissanayake said, addressing a press conference in Colombo, yesterday.
However, the Minister added that the matter came up while the ministers were discussing about the trade union actions and the breakdown of discipline in the country.
"I don't think it's something significant. Everyone laughed it off," he said.
When asked as to why Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne talked about Fonseka's new position at the Cabinet briefing, Dissanayake did not give a clear reply.
"I don't know about Rajitha's statement. But, it is now clear that some elements have suddenly got scared."
However, Minister Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, who presided over the press conference after Dissanayake said the President's offer to Fonseka was serious.
"The decision was made not only by the President, but also by the Cabinet. It was a serious offer and everyone took it seriously. Fonseka too responded favourably," Zoysa said, contradicting his party colleague.
