Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva yesterday denied war crimes allegations made against him.
Speaking to reporters in Kandy, the Commander said that during the war he did what he had to do for his country.
Silva said that he remains committed to safeguard his country despite the allegation made against him even today.
Major General Silva was the Commanding Officer of the 58th Division of the Army during the last stages of the war. Several public documents have levelled allegations against him of violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL).
Major General Shavendra Silva was appointed last week as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army.
However, the US, UN, EU, Canada and local civil society raised concerns over President Maithripala Sirisena’s appointment of Major General Shavendra Silva as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army.
The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) urged the Government of Sri Lanka to take immediate steps to review the appointment in light of the serious allegations levelled against Major General Silva.
Courtesy: Colombo Gazette
