The government yesterday said that General (retd) Sarath Fonseka had been allowed to pick his security contingent.

A spokesman for the Presidential Secretariat told The Island that that the Defence Ministry had instructed Army Chief Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya to release officers and men requested by the former Army Commander. He said that the entire security contingent, including commandos would be selected by the recently retired Chief of Defence Staff.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has also asked General Fonseka to continue to occupy the Army Commander’s official residence at the Buller’s Road but requested him to hand over the official quarters located within the Army headquarters. The President has said that he could be at the Buller’s Road residence until he found a suitable place to move in.