The 65 Infantry division of the Sri Lankan army, which is stationed in Kilinochchi, marked their twelfth anniversary by seeking blessings from Sinhala Buddhist monks in an elaborate religious ceremony last month.
The troops took part in a Buddhist ceremony called the Bodhi Pooja Pinkama, organized to invoke blessings to all Officers, other ranks and civil servants of 65 Infantry Division. Soldiers dressed in all white and knelt before Buddhist monks as part of the ceremony.
The security force headquarters went on to call the event a “celebration” of the troop’s “illustrious existence," regardless of the countless reports of war crimes, acts of genocide and human rights abuses committed by the Sri Lankan army.
Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has continuously appointed former military officials accused of human rights violations to senior diplomatic positions, exemplifying the increasing military influence across the island.
Shavendra Silva was recently promoted to the rank of General despite being banned from travelling to the US for his role in overseeing war crimes and human rights abuses. Silva was also made the head of Sri Lanka’s coronavirus task force even without having any public health experience. Furthermore, accused war criminal Kamal Gunaratne was also recently promoted to General.
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