COMMANDER OF THE ARMY Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka during his official tour in India last week was not without surprises, particularly when he visited Buddhist sacred places in Bodh Gaya, Mahabodhi temple and Saranath. Those sites were packed with devotees at the time of his visit.

Sri Lankan pilgrims to those places, unmoved by the heavy security blanket that rang the visiting military chief, went closer to him and held his hands warmly, and in some instances, some even knelt down before him in a moving gesture of affection and sheer respect for what he has been doing to rid their motherland of terrorism. Some of those devotees were observing precepts (Sil), clad in white at that point of time or meditating when they unexpectedly sighted the Sri Lankan Commander who went there for his own religious observances.

Pleas urging the Commander to salvage the land from the grip of Tiger terrorism and invoking blessings on his efforts, many Sri Lankan pilgrims held his hands warmly; spoke to him dearly as some others shared a few serious thoughts with their survivor of the nation while other distant onlookers began streaming towards the Commander. One old female devotee, irrespective of her age or gender, swiftly knelt down on the ground to pay her honour to the Commander in a sensational manner, and one more woman clasped her hands urging him to save the country while her husband looked on. Another woman pilgrim went on sobbing and crying, recalling priceless sacrifices being made at home by heroic members of the armed forces. Indian security officers and sleuths expressed astonishment at the moving warmth and respect the visiting military chief summoned and wanted his interaction be reduced on security grounds.

So did bunches of media men at different locations outside the military agenda. They queried as to the deadline for completion of the War for Peace in Sri Lanka. Some questioned about the confidence he has towards elimination of LTTE leader. Commander however patiently listened to all of them and responded.

Courtesy - MCNS