President Sirisena requested former army commander Sarath Fonseka to leave his current ministerial position to take a top security post.

"The President said he [Fonseka] can be either the army chief or the chief of defence staff, or have some new position with overall powers over security to bring about discipline in the country," stated Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne.

Fonseka later clarified that Sirisena’s request was to take a leading position within a new organization that would be in charge of maintaining essential services in times of emergency.

Such efforts are alleged to be a response to the increase in protests on the island and to speed up investigations of high-profile murders. “We accept there is indiscipline and we also accept that the police have not been able to deal with the situation effectively," stated Senaratne.

When asked if the government intended to bring a system such as that during the period of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Senaratne rejected such an idea. Further stating that, “He [Fonseka] will report his decisions to the Cabinet and the Cabinet will implement them.”

Fonseka, who held the position of army commander under the Rajapaksa regime, is suspected of being responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity – with many reports detailing the crimes committed by the Sri Lanka military under his control.