Entire Panel of Experts report is doubtful: Shavendra

The Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka at the United Nations, Major General Shavendra Silva yesterday dispelled misinformation and propaganda against Sri Lanka at the screening of the video, ‘Lies agreed upon’ organised by the United Nations Correspondents Association headed by Mr.Giampaolo Pioli.

He said that all who came to surrender irrespective of the "colour of the flag" they were waving were accepted. “It could've been white, black or any other colour. We were only concerned of the people who were coming in as they were our own citizens and not foreigners,” he said.

“I stressed upon the fact that over 11,000 surrendered including over 600 child combatants is clear evidence of how we have accepted all who came to surrender,” Major General Silva said.

He said that many questions were raised by the media who were present to witness the video, ‘Lies agreed upon’. The questions were on the white flag incident, particularly of the answer given by Dr. Kohona during his tenure as the foreign secretary, Mr. Kohana responded saying that he did not have any authority as the foreign secretary to give military commands.

"There were also questions on whether the Sri Lankan issue was an effect of the cold war. Also there were questions on the red brigade in Europe and whether there was a similarity between them and the LTTE who wished to join main stream politics,” he said.

“The breaking point was when the well known media personality at the UN media section, Matthew Russell Lee pointed out and questioned about the 58 division shelling at the Pudukuduyirippu Hospital. I told him that he is clearly incorrect as the Panel of Experts (POE) report never mentioned about the 58 division shelling the hospital,” he added. “Then he took the POE report out and read page 25, paragraph 90 which says “fighting in the area intensified as part of the expressed effort by the 55 and 58 division to capture the Pudukuduyirippu Hospital,” he said.

“It was the 58 and the 53 division but not the 55 division that was in Pudukuduyirippu. That shows what you read from the POE report is wrong and there by you will understand that the content of the POE report is wrong,” Major General Silva responded. (Supun Dias)