The European Union (EU) raising concerns over the appointment of Lieutenant-General Shavendra Silva as Commander of the Sri Lanka Army has questioned “Sri Lanka’s commitments to the UN Human Rights Council.”
The EU noted that it shares the sentiments expressed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and stated the appointment “sends a worrying message to victims and survivors of the war.”
A joint statement on Lt.General Silva’s appointment was issued in agreement with the Embassies of Germany, Italy, Netherlands, the UK High Commission, the Embassies of Norway and Switzerland.
It notes that the EU members share the same concerns as the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on the appointment due to the allegations of human rights and humanitarian law violations against the new Army Commander.
“We fully share the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s serious concerns about the appointment of Lieutenant-General Shavendra Silva as Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, given the allegations of grave human rights and humanitarian law violations against him,” the EU stated.
“The promotion of Lieutenant-General Silva to the post of Army Commander calls into question Sri Lanka’s commitments to the UN Human Rights Council, as recently as March 2019, to ensure justice and accountability. It also undermines Sri Lanka’s efforts towards national reconciliation and sends a worrying message to victims and survivors of the war,” the statement added.
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