The Sri Lanka Army`s Eastern Commanding Officer who was responsible for the capturing of Thoppigala and other areas last year, Major General Parakrama Pannipitiya has charged that his security has been seriously compromised by Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka.

Filing a fundamental rights (FR) petition in the Supreme Court last Friday (22) Maj. Gen. Pannipitiya has said that his life is in danger following the withdrawal of his security and has prayed for the re-instatement of his security contingent.

The fundamental rights petition is to be taken up in the Supreme Court today (27).

Maj. Gen. Pannipitiya has been transferred to Army Headquarters in Colombo under controversial circumstances and stripped of his security contingent.

In his petition, Maj. Gen. Pannipitiya has charged that his life is in danger following action taken by the first respondent, Army Commander Gen. Sarath Fonseka based on an anonymous petition.

Maj. Gen. Pannipitiya in his FR application has stated that he was not given an opportunity to explain or answer the allegations leveled against him. Instead he has alleged that Army Commander Fonseka demanded that he hand in his retirement papers or face a court martial.

Maj. Gen. Pannipitiya has stated in his FR petition that he was under constant LTTE threat both in operational and outside operational areas. He has cited military reports to this effect. He has stated that he was informed in March 2007 that his movements were being monitored by the LTTE and was being followed in Colombo to places he frequented.

Maj. Gen. Pannipitiya has stated that he was removed from his position as Eastern Commander and transferred to Colombo based on an anonymous petition alleging that he had used a Captain to manage a property that purportedly belonged to him in Puttalam and that he had hired a vehicle in an irregular manner, both of which he denies.

The anonymous petition has also accused the former Eastern Commander of taking food items from the Officer`s Mess beyond entitlement.

Maj. Gen. Pannipitiya has also said that although he had indicated he had no place to go he had been ordered to vacate his staff quarters with immediate effect.

Maj. Gen. Pannipitiya has also said his back-up vehicles have been withdrawn putting his life in great danger.