Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya, the lastest commander of the Sri Lankan security forces in the Jaffna district met with Dr Suren Raghavan, the governor of the Northern Province, earlier this week, as both men faced criticism from local Tamils.
Wanigasooriya assumed office on Monday during a ceremony at the army’s occupying military base path the Security Force Headquarters in Jaffna.
He previously served as the General Officer Commanding 59 Division, prior to his appointment as Jaffna Army Commander. The 59 Division, based in Mullaitivu, actively played a role in the Sri Lankan military offensive in 2009 that killed tens of thousands of Tamil civilians.
The meeting comes amidst continued militarisation of the North-East, which has faced criticism from international organisations as well as local Tamils. Raghavan also came under fire from villagers of Keppapilavu earlier this month, who claimed that Tamil politicians had “forsaken” them in their struggle to free their lands from Sri Lankan military occupation.
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