Sri Lankan army commander and accused war criminal, Shavendra Silva, has been appointed to the National Sports Council by Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa.
Silva's appointment to the Council follows Sri Lanka's pattern of increasing militarisation of state institutions which has taken place since Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed office in November 2019. Silva remains banned from travelling to the US over rights abuses which took place during the military offensive that killed tens of thousands of Tamils.
Read more here: Shavendra Silva - 'the most wanted man in Sri Lanka'
Other members of the Council include Mahela Jayawardana, who will head the Council, and retired cricketer Kumar Sangakkara. The Council's role is to advise the minister on developing sports in the country.
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