Govt. strongly objected US’s travel ban on Army Chief
February 16, 2020The Government has conveyed Sri Lanka’s strong objections on the imposition of travel restrictions on Sri Lanka’s Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander Lt. Gen.Shavendra Silva and immediate family, today.
Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardenatoday, who met the US Ambassador Alaina Teplitz has formally conveyed Sri Lanka’s strong objections on the imposition of travel restrictions by the US Government Lt. Gen.Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army and Acting Chief of Defence Staff, as well as his immediate family.
During his discussion, the Minister reiterated that Lt. Gen. Silva was appointed as the Commander of the Army by the then Head of State, taking into account his seniority and that there were no substantiated or proven allegations of human rights violations against him. His elevation as the Acting Chief of Defence Staff by the current Head of State President GotabayaRajapaksa was on account of his being the senior most serving military officer.
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