Army Commander Lt. General Shavendra Silva said Defence Ministry Secretary Kamal Gunaratne personally invited former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka for the 11th National War Heroes Day celebration.

"However, the former Army Commander said he was not in a position to attend the ceremony due to a prior engagement," Silva added appearing on a television discussion yesterday.

He said the Defence Ministry Secretary contacted the former Army Commander following instructions from President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

All key military figures involved in the final phase of the war against the LTTE were invited for the ceremony.

Fonseka was seen at a protest organised in Kalutara yesterday calling for the release of former Minister Rajitha Senaratne.