Major General Rohitha Aluwihare, the former commanding officer of the General Officer Commanding 11 Infantry Division - Central and representing the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment has been appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lankan army, as another official accused of war crimes receives a promotion from the military.
Aluwihare is known for Commanding the 4 VIR under the 681 Brigade - the regiment who were engaged in the military offensive during the final stages of the Mullivaikkal genocide in 2009. His regiment that maintained a merciless military assault until the body was found. Tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were murdered during the final phase of this armed conflict.
In an account of the final phase of the offensive, Aluwihara told the Sunday Observer that during the final day, "our soldiers had killed over 126 terrorists," alone.
The Sri Lankan army stands accused of committing a genocide for which there has been no accountability. Despite it being 15 years since the end of the armed conflict, not a single soldier or commander has been held accountable for the massacres.
Instead, many have been granted promotions.
