Responding to a remark by his predecessor Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, he said no removals or resignations of defence secretaries or armed forces chiefs occurred on such previous instances.

Thousands of soldiers were killed at certain camps, the Vavuniya ammunition dump exploded, but no defence secretary or armed forces commander took responsibility, Hettiarachchi has told BBC Sandeshaya.

He also rejected a claim by Rajapaksa that the dynamism of the armed forces has suffered a setback under the present regime.

Destruction of ‘Ranavirugama’

The defence secretary also said there was a question as to why disabled soldiers had been settled near an ammunition dump.

‘Ranavirugama’ located behind the ammunition dump suffered the worst damage, with most of its 108 houses destroyed.

They had been living there since 1999, and they have nothing of their belongings left after the destruction caused to the camp in the explosion and the fire.

These disabled soldier families are among the around 500 persons taking temporary shelter at Bollatawa temple.