Army Chief Jagath Jayasuriya yesterday said that in keeping with his predecessor General Sarath Fonseka’s policy, he would tackle waste, corruption and irregularities in the army.

Paying a glowing tribute to General Fonseka for spearheading the war against the LTTE, Jayasuriya said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had chosen him over some of his senior colleagues for his role as Security Forces Commander, Vanni during the largest ever offensive conducted in that region. He revealed that about 80,000 officers and men deployed with fighting formations on the Vanni front had been under his command.

The armoured Corps officer said that he was delighted to lead the army in a new era. He said that he never expected to succeed General Fonseka. "I was told last Saturday evening of the President’s decision," he said.

Now that the war against the LTTE was over, their priorities would have to change, he said, emphasising the importance of improving discipline, training and welfare facilities. He said that the army would help the government in its development efforts.