Shavendra’s promotion: Worrying message to victims of war: EU

• Given the allegations of grave human rights violations against him

The Delegation of the European Union (EU) yesterday said the promotion of Lieutenant-General Shavendra Silva to the post of Army Commander undermines Sri Lanka’s efforts towards national reconciliation and send a worrying message to victims and survivors of the war.   

Issuing a statement, the Delegation said the new appointment calls into question Sri Lanka’s commitments to the UN Human Rights Council, as recently as March 2019, to ensure justice and accountability.   

“We fully share the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s serious concerns about the appointment of Lieutenant-General Silva as Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, given the allegations of grave human rights and humanitarian law violations against him,” the statement said.