Former Air Force commander, and accused war criminal, Sumangala Dias has been appointed to become Sri Lanka’s high commissioner to Canada.
Dias’s appointment follows a worrying trending of appointing former military officials, accused of human rights violations, to senior diplomatic positions.
Sumanagal Dias was appointed as Commander of the Air Force Base Hinguarakgoda in 2005 and over saw the final stages of the armed conflict as Senior Air Coordinator. His role actively engaged with ground commanders of the notorious 57th, 58th and 59th division of the Army who have been accused of committing war crimes.
The UN has reported that during the end of the armed conflict cluster munitions and white phosphorus bombs were indiscriminately used in areas of high civilian population. The designated “No Fire Zones” saw constant airstrikes from Sri Lankan Airforce.
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