Sri Lankan general Shavendra Silva, accused of war abuses, appointed army chief

He was in charge of the 58th Division which shelled a hospital during the last stages of the civil war in 2009

The UN has criticised the appointment, saying it undermines reconciliation efforts in the country

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Shavendra Silva, Sri Lanka’s new army chief. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:55am, 20 Aug 2019Updated: 1:03pm, 21 Aug 2019

Sri Lanka’s president on Monday appointed a general accused of grave human rights abuses in the final stages of its long civil war as the country’s new army chief – a move the United Nations says may affect contributions to UN peacekeeping missions.

The new commander, Major General Shavendra Silva, who was also promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, was in charge of the 58th Division which encircled the final stronghold of the Tamil Tiger rebels in the last stages of the civil war in 2009. Rights groups have accused the division of violating international human rights laws, including shelling a hospital.

Silva’s appointment comes as President Maithripala Sirisena and his government face criticism that they failed to heed warnings ahead of a series of suicide bomb attacks in April. The attacks by two local Muslim groups that had pledged allegiance to Islamic State group killed more than 260 people.

Sri Lankan soldiers provide security during recent Eid al-Adha prayers. Photo: EPA-EFE

Silva is respected by many in Sri Lanka’s ethnic Sinhalese majority. He has denied attacking the hospital in the final stages of the war.

The government declared victory over the rebels in May 2009, ending the Tamil Tigers’ 26-year campaign for an independent state for minority ethnic Tamils. Both the Sri Lankan military and the rebels have been accused of wartime abuses.