Sri Lanka’s war crimes accused Chief of Defence Staff, Shavendra Silva has urged the Speaker of Sri Lanka’s parliament to convene an urgent meeting of party leaders to resolve the turmoil gripping the country.
His statement comes as a state of emergency has been imposed on the Western Province by recently appointed acting President, Ranil Wickremesinghe. Silva further urged the public to cooperate with the military and police until a new President is elected.
“The heads of the tri-forces and police chief made a request from the speaker to call a meeting of party leaders and clarify the next political steps, and inform us of the political steps,” said Silva said in a televised address. “We are confident these decisions to be made public in the evening,”
He sat alongside the heads of Air Force, Army, Navy and Police in an almsot unprecedented press conference.
Silva is currently serving a travel ban from the US in relation to concerns of war crimes committed as he led Sri Lanka’s notorious 58th Division during the final phase of the war. During this period the Government oversaw a litany of human rights abuses including summary executions; the shelling of hospitals and food lines; the white phosphorus against civilians; rape and sexual violence; and enforced disappearances.
