The Chief of Staff for Sri Lanka’s army, Vikum Liyanage, is set to replace the current war crimes accused Commander of Sri Lanka’s army, Shavendra Silva, who will take on the post of Chief of Defence Staff.
Liyanage, of the notorious Gajaba Regiment, had previously served as Commandant of Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.
The Gajaba Regiment has been implicated in numerous atrocities in Vishwamadu, Puthukkudiyiruppu and Puttumattalan during the armed conflict. These locations are referenced in detail as places where alleged war crimes and grave human rights violations occurred based on the United Nations Report of the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL).
According to the Sri Lankan army, Liyanage first joined the security forces in 1986, where after training in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, he was posted to the Gajaba Regiment.
The army describes him as a “battle-hardened warrior” who has “held a number of significant command, staff and instructional appointments”.
As well as being Second in Command of 14th Gajaba Regiment, Liyanage was Intelligence Officer of 21 and 55 Infantry Divisions, Commanding Officer of 8th Gajaba Regiment, Brigade Commander (Overlooking) of 225 and 553 Infantry Brigades, Brigade Commander of 215, 542, 224, 221 and 623 Infantry Brigades, Director General of Psychological Operations and more.
Many of the above units are accused of committing war crimes.
This appointment comes as there is mounting pressure for sanctions to be imposed on Shavendra Silva who led the 58 Division during the final stages of the armed conflict. This division oversaw a litany of human rights abuses including summary executions; the shelling of hospital and food lines; the white phosphorus against civilians; rape and sexual violence; and enforced disappearances.
