Newly elected Sri Lankan president discusses 'defence priorities' with security forces commanders

by admin
Sep 23, 2024

Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with the commanders of the security forces to discuss "defence priorities" shortly after he was sworn in as Sri Lanka's president. 

The newly elected president met with accused war criminal and Chief of Defence Staff Shavendra Silva, army commander Vikum Liyanage, navy commander Priyantha Perera and air force commander Udeni Rajapaksa to reportedly discuss national security and defence priorities. 

Earlier today, Dissanayake appointed an accused war criminal Sampath Thuyacontha as the new Secretary of Defence. Thuyacontha was the Wing Commander of the No 09 squadron, a helicopter gunship squadron that conducted nearly 400 missions during the genocide.

Sri Lanka's security forces stand accused of violating international humanitarian law during the final months of the armed conflict in 2009. Tamils trapped in the No Fire Zones were subjected to heavy shelling by Sri Lanka's security forces and denied access to food and medicines. 

During his presidential campaign, Dissanayake said he "will not seek to punish anyone accused of rights violations and war crimes".

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Official trailer for film below.

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