Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Major General Lasantha Rodrigo as the 25thcommander of Sri Lanka’s army, succeeding retiring army chief Vikum Liyanage, and Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda as navy commander, replacing vice admiral Priyantha Perera.
The appointment comes as Sri Lanka continues to face international pressure to deliver accountability for the war crimes committed against Tamils during the armed conflict.
According to the Sri Lankan army Lasantha Rodrigo had served as the Commanding Officer of the 18th Field Regiment Sri Lanka Artillery (RFT) during its campaigns at Thoppigala and Mannar. The 18th regiment falls under the 57th division of Sri Lanka’s army and engaged in the eastern campaign where a number of alleged atrocities took place.
According to Human Rights Watch, the 57th Division took part in the last battles of the war, including the extremely bloody and abusive fighting on a small stretch of beach in Mullaitivu district. Human Rights Watch documented the indiscriminate shelling of civilians and hospitals by government forces in the region where the 57th Division was deployed”. The 2011 Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) further provides ample evidence of war crimes committed by the 57th division through witness testimonies, documentation from international and domestic NGOs, Sri Lankan Army reports, photographs, and more.
Over the years, Sri Lanka has faced increasing pressure to deliver accountability for the war crimes committed by its military during the brutal armed conflict. States such as the US and Canada, have already imposed sanctions on officials linked to war crimes including former army chief Shavendra Silva and former presidents Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Tamil survivor communities persist in their calls for accountability and justice for crimes committed and for an end to continued military occupation of their land. However, during the election campaign Dissanayake made clear that he had no interest in punishing prior atrocities committed by the military.
