A controversial Sri Lankan army general accused of grave human rights abuses during the country’s 26-year brutal civil war with the LTTE was on Monday appointed the new Army Commander, evoking strong criticism from the US and the minority Tamils.
President Maithripala Sirisena’s office on Monday announced that Lt Gen Shavendra Silva has been named as the new army commander.
Silva, 55, will take charge as incumbent Army chief Lt Gen Mahesh Senanayake’s service was not extended.
Silva headed the Army’s 58th Division in the final battle against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels in the final stages of the civil war in 2009.
His brigade was accused of attacking civilians, hospitals and stopping humanitarian supplies to trapped Tamil civilians.
Silva’s name was mentioned in the resolution passed by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2013, alleging rights abuses by the Sri Lankan Army. The Sri Lanka Army has denied the alleged rights abuses.
Critics say Silva’s appointment as the Army chief may strain Sri Lanka’s cooperation in UN Peacekeeping operations and the defence cooperation between the US and Sri Lanka.