On February 14, the US State Department imposed a travel ban on the recently appointed Commander of the Sri Lankan Army Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva for his involvement in gross violations of human rights during the final phase of civil war. He has been blacklisted for ‘gross human rights violations’
Crux of the Matter
It has been alleged that Silva, as Commander of the 58th Division of the Sri Lankan Army, was involved in extra-judicial killings during the final phase of Sri Lanka’s Civil War in 2009. It is the first time any of the leading suspects in the mass killings have been held accountable on a global level.
Lt Gen Silva’s immediate family are also subject to the travel ban, under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020.
There is credible information about his involvement in human rights violations during the final phase of the war. – US State Department
During the 2008-09 conflict, Lt.General was accused of shelling in no-fire zones where thousands of civilians had taken shelter.
His promotion to army chief in January 2019 triggered widespread outrage in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is accused of ignoring the UN human rights council resolutions it signed agreeing to establish a system to hold to account the perpetrators of mass killings.
Programme coordinator of the International Truth and Justice Project Frances Harrison said, “How on earth did the government of Sri Lanka think it would not have consequences when they appointed one of the most notorious commanders to head the army?”
We urge the Sri Lankan government to promote human rights, hold accountable individuals responsible for war crimes and human rights violations, advance security sector reform, and uphold its other commitments to pursue justice and reconciliation. – Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State
Sri Lanka has asked the United States to review its decision on the travel ban. Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka has strongly objected this ban and rejected these allegations by saying, “there were no substantiated or proven allegations of human rights violations against him.”
Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has summoned U.S. Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz to the ministry and conveyed Sri Lanka’s strong objections by saying, ” this unnecessarily complicates the U.S.-Sri Lanka relationship.”
Curiopedia
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a historic document that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its third session on 10 December 1948 as Resolution 217 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France. The Declaration consists of 30 articles affirming an individual’s rights which, although not legally binding in themselves, have been elaborated in subsequent international treaties, economic transfers, regional human rights instruments, national constitutions, and other laws. The Declaration was the first step in the process of formulating the International Bill of Human Rights, which was completed in 1966, and came into force in 1976 after a sufficient number of countries had ratified them. More Info
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