International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) has revealed fresh information to prove Major General Shavendra Silva‘s involvement in war crimes and gross human rights violation during the final phase of war.
Despite his track record in terms of war crimes, President Maithripala Sirisena recently appointed him the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, making him a strong contender for the position of Army Commander upon Lt. General Mahesh Senanayake’s retirement.
The full statement issued by ITJP on Silva’s involvement in war crimes is as follows,
Enough Evidence to Charge Sri Lanka’s new Chief of Army Staff with War Crimes
Johannesburg: There is more than enough evidence to suspend Sri Lanka’s new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Shavendra Silva, and charge him with war crimes and crimes against humanity, said the International Truth and Justice Project. The South Africa-based investigative group published a 137-page dossier on Silva, detailing his role as one of the most important Field Commanders during the 2008-9 War. The dossier presents the most extensive body of evidence against him – or any Sri Lankan War-time commander – to date. It amalgamates photographs, contemporaneous SMS and witness testimony, including from insiders, and evidence of official Army releases which were deleted offline after the war to hide the truth, as well as drawing on the findings of past UN investigative reports.
“There is a staggering amount of evidence in this dossier meticulously collected by my team over many years,” said ITJP’s Executive Director, Yasmin Sooka, “Many successful cases at international tribunals or the International Criminal Court had less to work with. There is now no excuse for this man to remain as number two in the Sri Lankan Army; he must be suspended immediately and a criminal investigation instituted.”
Ms. Sooka was one of three international legal experts appointed in 2010 by the United Nations Secretary General to look into the conduct of the final War in Sri Lanka. This was followed in 2012 by an internal review of the UN’s own grave failures in Sri Lanka and then an investigation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“After the UN investigation completed its work in 2015, the ITJP continued to document and collect evidence regarding the War. This means our NGO now has the most extensive archive of evidence pertaining to the final phase of the Civil War and violations in its aftermath. This dossier is just a fraction of the information we hold,” said Ms. Sooka. “This illustrates the importance of a dedicated team of experts to do this work with knowledge that builds up over years.”
Promising reform, in 2015 Sri Lanka’s new Government co-sponsored a UN resolution backing an ambitious transitional justice programme, including a hybrid court – which it then refused to implement. Despite promises to address the past, no senior military official has been convicted for their role in the conflict which ended a decade ago. Instead many alleged perpetrators have been promoted.
Shavendra Silva’s promotion to Chief of Army Staff in January 2019 was the most shocking. It caused alarm and horror in the former conflict areas of Sri Lanka where Tamil war survivors still live. However, some in the south still regard him as a hero.
“The international community cannot seriously talk about progress on rule of law and accountability so long as Shavendra Silva enjoys impunity. How can the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations continue to recruit peacekeepers from Sri Lanka when the army is run by this man? It would condone the gravest international crimes. If Sri Lanka fails to act, we look especially to countries in the region with close military ties to Sri Lanka to deny Shavendra Silva visas or, better still, to arrest him under universal jurisdiction,” added Ms. Sooka.
In 2017, the ITJP filed a series of war crimes cases under universal jurisdiction against Shavendra Silva’s immediate Commander in the War, General Jagath Jayasuriya, who was an ambassador in Latin America. Jayasuriya fled on the eve of the filing of the cases and has shown no sign of returning to Brazil or Chile to test the allegations against him in an independent court of law.
Dossier Summary
This dossier on Shavendra Silva details the attacks on a series of towns and villages in the north of Sri Lanka in 2008-9 by the 58 Division which he commanded. It makes the case that those attacks involved:
- indiscriminate and intentional attacks conducted against the civilian population,
- attacks on hospitals and medical staff,
- attacks on No Fire Zones,
- the use of prohibited and indiscriminate weapons.
Command responsibility
Under international law, a commander like Shavendrea Silva can be held directly responsible for:
- ordering his subordinates to carry out unlawful acts,
- failing to act when the unlawful acts have been committed by his subordinates (irrespective of whether he ordered them).
Silva must know this, as the Army says he has been teaching international humanitarian law to soldiers.
Attacks on Civilians
The dossier finds the scale of civilian casualties and injuries among the civilian population nothing short of catastrophic. Thousands of photographs that have emerged clearly show how this was a war on civilians. Eyewitnesses describe scenes of total panic in the makeshift hospitals as they came under repeated Government attack:
“It was complete chaos, it cannot be described in words. Crying and screaming parents carried their wounded children here and there in panic. The children were severely wounded, some with their half-severed limbs hanging from their bodies.”
Tamil survivors of the 2009 War still suffer nightmares and trauma a decade on, haunted by the images of the dying. One described a baby’s head landing next to him; another remembers passing a man holding in his intestines which were hanging out. Some tried to dig trenches for protection and kept finding decaying corpses; others talk of running barefoot through puddles of blood. They frequently describe seeing people carrying their loved ones to shelter, not having realised they had already died. Horrific images have remained with the War survivors, many of whom also suffered torture and sexual violence in detention in the post-War period.
“In one family everyone died except one child of about 18 months and his father. Both were wounded in the head and the boy was so hungry. The blood was running from his head. He had no idea what was going on around him and I think he was just sucking his thumb because he was so hungry, disregarding the blood and the pain of his headwound.”
Kilinochchi Attacks
Major General Shavendra Silva was in command during the repeated attacks on and capture of Kilinochchi. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Shavendra Silva ordered attacks with the deliberate intention to hit the civilian objects, such as the hospital and UN buildings, resulting in civilian casualties.
PTK Attacks
The 58 Division was directly involved in the military operation in PTK led by Shavendra Silva. He knew about PTK Hospital’s coordinates as they were communicated to the Government, and he had access to drones and UAVs that surveyed the area. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Major General Silva was fully aware that PTK Hospital was being bombarded and shelled as UN officials informed the Sri Lanka Army on multiple occasions that the hospital was coming under attack. Major General Silva knew, or must have known, that subordinates under his effective control were committing serious violations of international humanitarian law in the predominantly civilian area and did not stop the attacks even though he was in command and it was in his power.
Pokkanai Attacks
Troops under the effective command of Shavendra Silva were involved in the military operations in Pokkanai, when indiscriminate and intentional attacks were directed against civilians, including at milk powder distribution points, which resulted in heavy civilian casualties, including the killing and injuring of women and children.
There are reasonable grounds to believe that Silva knew or had reasons to know that subordinates under his effective control were intentionally directing attacks at the civilian population and civilian objects in a densely populated area, as well as launching indiscriminate attacks that caused death and injury among civilians. The attacks were repeated over a prolonged period of time and the information of the previous attacks must have reached him.
Putumattalan Attacks
The evidence in this report confirms that Major General Shavendra Silva led the military operation against the hospital in Putumattalan and that troops under his command captured the hospital. There are also reasonable grounds to believe that Major General Silva planned and ordered attacks at Putumattalan, including at the hospital, which resulted in the extensive civilian casualties in and around the hospital. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Major General Shavendra Silva ordered attacks with the intention to hit civilian objects, as the hospital was attacked on a number of occasions. Furthermore, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the attacks against the Putumattalan were disproportionate.
Valayanmadam Attacks
There are reasonable grounds to believe that Shavendra Silva’s troops were involved in attacks against the hospital and church in Valayanmadam, which resulted in the civilian casualties and damage to the buildings. The Sri Lankan Army, including 58 Division, employed shelling, tanks and cluster munitions, which points to an indiscriminate means and method of warfare. There are reasonable grounds to believe Major General Silva had reasons to know that subordinates under his effective control were intentionally directing attacks at the civilian population and at civilian objects in Valayanmadam as well as launching indiscriminate attacks likely to cause extensive death and injury among civilians.
Mullivaikkal Attacks
There are reasonable grounds to believe that Major General Silva knew or had a reason to know that subordinates under his effective control were intentionally directing attacks at the civilian population and civilian objects in Mullivaikkal as well as launching indiscriminate attacks likely to cause extensive death and injury among civilians. Moreover, the evidence indicates that he was present in the area as he “personally directed ground troops” and therefore must have witnessed displaced civilians being affected by the attacks, given that the Third No Fire Zone (NFZ-3) was only 2km² in size. There is no indication that he punished those responsible under his command or tried to take all necessary and reasonable measures to prevent the attacks.
Surrenders
The UN report states that the surrenders at the Wadduvakkal Bridge were to the 58 Division. An eyewitness interviewed by the ITJP confirms that Major General Shavendra Silva, who has said he was in overall command of the area, personally shook hands with LTTE political leaders who surrendered to him; their corpses were seen on the roadside some time later on the other side of the Wadduvakkal Bridge. Given his presence in and command over the area, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Major General Silva knew of or consciously disregarded information which clearly indicated that the troops under his responsibility were responsible for the enforced disappearance of those who surrendered, summarily executing some of them.
Rape and other forms of Sexual Violence, and Torture
A witness, who was himself tortured, testified that Major General Shavendra Silva indicated that he approved of the use of torture. In light of the OISL report and of evidence set out in this dossier, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Shavendra Silva knew about or had reason to know about the torture committed by the troops under his effective control, and that he failed to prevent these violations or to punish those responsible. Similarly, given the evidence set out in this dossier, and the findings by the OISL, Major General Shavendra Silva can and should face charges of war crimes of rape, torture and outrages upon personal dignity, as well as torture as a separate crime, committed by troops under his effective command and control.
Chitra / January 29, 2019
To all those Sri Lankans in New York and New Jersey, who fawned over this man, and treated him like a hero – here is your hero, and he has blood dripping from his dirty hands. Avoid shaking it the next time you meet him.
This man should be tried for war crimes and thrown in jail. By looking the other way, while those under him raped, and tortured, he has enabled them, and is responsible for their vile acts. He has disgraced the country, and the uniform he was wearing, to perpetrate the worst war crimes. The buck also stops at the top.
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Flanker / January 29, 2019
We all Sri Lankans would shake his hand a many million times repeatedly. We wish that he becomes our next General. An officer and gentlemen to the core.
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Native Vedda / January 29, 2019
Flanker
–
“We all Sri Lankans would shake his hand a many million times repeatedly.”
–
Haven’t you got anything better to do?
Are you Flanker or Plonker?
Did you mean his hand or his Willi?
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Chitra / January 29, 2019
Of course you will, if you have low standards for your General. A General with blood on his hands, and responsible for the massacre of civilians, who happen to be Sri Lankans. He is a ruthless man who has disgraced the country.
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Raj-UK / January 29, 2019
Flanker
Shavendra Silva ”An officer and gentlemen ”
I beg to differ. As far as I am aware, only the late Denzil Kobbakaduwa fits the description but he is not considered a hero in the current context. I am sure there are junior Officers who fit that description but certainly none in the upper ranks.
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Kumar R. / January 29, 2019
Flanker,
I am sure Shavendra’s wife and children are at least as happy and as proud as you, particularly on his “war crimes of rape, torture and outrages upon personal dignity, as well as torture as a separate crime” as the international forum concluded.
.
In that context, may I reiterate Maharage’s comment “Soldiers used to bring suspected Tamil girls for Shavendra’s “First Taste”. Once Shavendra finished his business, the girls became a common fodder for the rest of soldiers until the victims died.”
..
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JD / January 29, 2019
KUMAR R why you were watching or the dead spirit told you. Who told you Suicide belt carrying Brigade
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Kumar R. / January 29, 2019
JD,
Shavendra’s wife wasn’t watching, and Shavendra’s kids weren’t watching either
.
Wonder if they are as confident as you are and still able to sleep and shake appochi’s hands – dissmissing details in UN’s dossier as easily as you do!
.
Many a faith teach that offsprings end up paying for the sins of their parents! Time will tell.
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Chitra / January 30, 2019
You don’t speak for all Sri Lankans. There are many who disagree with his method of fighting wars, where fellow Sri Lankans have been killed, raped, or tortured, under this criminals leadership. The end does not justify the means, and wanting to shake hands with a war criminal with blood on his hands, shows you have no high standards for a so called “hero”. These charges have been verified with proof, keep that in mind.
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gal banda / January 29, 2019
He saved the country of all Sri Lankans from the murderous LTTE, while you were fleeing the country to serve suddas in search of some dollars and became a second class citizen wherever you are now. He never disgraced the country. He is a hero. Prove the facts before giving your commentaries from your bed room.
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K.Anaga / January 29, 2019
Gal!
You seem to have put this comment down after a “Gal Shot”
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Native Vedda / January 29, 2019
gal banda
–
Brilliant.
Did he really save the country?
I thought he was really interested in covering his face with ugly sunglasses.
What did other generals, other members of armed forces, Mahindawamsa, ………….. smart ass patriots do during the war?
Was LTTE murderous? I never knew it was until you mentioned it. I only knew VP and his LTTE fought the Hindian IPKF and got them out of the island while Sri Lankan armed forces were hiding behind their women folks or behind VP’s bum.
–
“He never disgraced the country. “
–
True, instead he killed them all, what a brave heart.
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Maharage, / January 29, 2019
Hollow Gon Banda,
A very close friend of Shavendra who had been with him through out all his operations in the North confided to me how this so called War Hero raped hundreds of girls in the north.
In fact, most of the soldiers that time knew this. Soldiers used to bring suspected Tamil girls for Shavendra’s “First Taste”. Once
Shavendra finished his business, the girls became a common fodder for the rest of soldiers until the victims died.
THIS IS A KNOWN TRUTH !! No matter however much you try to deny it.
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JD / January 29, 2019
Maharage is definitely Sinhala. Who told you this that fortune teller of Mahinda Rajapakse ?
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Navin / January 29, 2019
If he was responsible for the rape of your sister or daughter, you will be singing a different tune.
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Chitra / January 29, 2019
Why should I prove it, when you have a credible international entity who investigated and back their findings with witnesses, videos, photographs, and solid proof? You can support this criminal all you like but your support amounts to nothing against these findings.
“The ITJP was established in December 2013 in response to emerging evidence regarding war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sri Lanka both during the final phase of the civil war in 2009 and its aftermath. The project is administered by the Foundation for Human Rights in South Africa under the guidance of its director, transitional justice expert, Yasmin Sooka. The ITJP team includes former prosecutors from the Ad Hoc Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), lawyers who have worked for the United Nations, the Special Court of Sierra Leone and the International Criminal Court who collectively have decades of experience in investigation of sexual violence and torture, and in many instances firsthand knowledge of investigations relating to Sri Lanka that are germane to this Committee’s focus.”
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gal banda / January 29, 2019
@Chitra, [edited out]Say in Canada, the Tamil immigrants, 99% of them had psuedo stories to tell. When the gullible Canadian government granted them the citizenship, they had numbers and therefore a voice to manipulate the politicians there, to campain in their favour, as these immigrants had the right to vote. Any of above said ITJP team, supposed to have decades of experience as you state, never visited Sri Lanka to find the real facts. They were ardent cyber doodlers, busy reading articles and webs like tamilnet, the famous LTTE cyber den. This ITJP never spoke of how LTTE used civillians as a shield. Shavendra aside, why are they protecting Adele Balasingham? She garlanded cyanide capsuled necklesses on the 10 year olds and gave each a AK47. ( Video evidence was available at that time ). With both eye closed, verdict of the fact finding had been made 100% based on Tamil diaspora s versions of stories, fabricated videos and photos. They never brlived or accepted the good samritan work done by SL Army. WAR had casualties. Unfortunately, the SL government never acknowledged it or commemorated the dead. They commemorated only the dead soldiers, not the civillians. That was arrogant stupidity. If Shavendra raped 100 girls as stated, let at least a couple them, the victims to come forward and confess with their facts. He should be tried based on facts only, not the fiction.
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thamizh / January 30, 2019
gal banda, you can’t be that stupid. many of these raped victims never survived to tell their stories. not all of the evidence are based on victim testimonies. when the perpetrators removed traces of their crime, they forgot about the war trophy videos they took and others including their colleagues who bore witness to their crimes. you, just like most sinhalese, are genocide deniers. they either actively or passively participate in genocide against the tamil population.
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Lankan / January 29, 2019
Gal Banda,
Most Sri Lankans are second class citizens in their own country!
They are too drunk on all the wrong stuff to realise it!
And if it’s the western world you are referring to, they actually do their best to be fair to everyone and safeguard any resident’s rights…can you say the same about Sri Lanka? I think not!
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Chitra / January 30, 2019
You must have a severe reading problem. Read the article again and again slowly, and let it sink in…these are serious crimes and they have proof.
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JD / January 29, 2019
Chitra: Even your war crime list is too short. there shoul be many more. How about bombing wedding parties.
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gamini / January 30, 2019
Why did America allow him to hide in the UN Head Office in NY all this while? Is it not for the US involvement in helping MR, presenting VP and the LTTE on a platter drawing VP out, from his stronghold Kilinochchi to the beachfront, promising to whisk him away and reneging in the end?
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Analyst / January 29, 2019
Don’t worry! Shit Lanka and Shitsena will protect all the crooks and murderers. That gives multiple plus signs to carry Crimes in any level and make Shitlanka the Most of “Wonder of Asia.”
The Mahasangha too is ready to cover up Criminal in the name of Lord Buddha.
Is it not Shitting ??? Thus producing or breeding many more criminals in the country under the guidance of our leader of the country and the Leading spiritualists??
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cholan / January 29, 2019
What a pity.
Silisena has selected a goose for chopping.
Cheers
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chiv / January 29, 2019
Is this enough for evidence for our Lankan Retards. I am sure there is piles of more evidence not against him but others too. GR/ MR directed them and both want to future president.Hold your breadth. Because our Lankans, religious heads , Wimal and rest of politicians will come out defending these murders and blame US,UN, ITGP. EU, UK, LTTE, Sumanthiran, Tamils in general, Diaspora ——etc—–etc. We have retarded Shamal Perera and the rest to do the same in CT. But the fact is Lankans can be easily fooled. But the fact finding missions will continue to its conclusion with or without Lankas cooperation. More you resist and lie is reason to investigate further. Jaliya will be surrendering soon to US authority/FBI and they know how to make deals and get the information out of anyone. If you dont believe me ask Flynn or Cohen. In Lanka Lasantha or Thaj murders may not see light. But this is NOT LANKAWE SHIT.If you resist the international judges coming to Lanka the cases will end up in international courts. Remember what ever skeleton/evidence you find in Lanka is still being send to US/UK for confirmation.
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Punda Varten / January 29, 2019
You can carry out your cowardly campaign under 1000 bogus names. But we know who you are because it is the same shit that keeps pouring out.
–
We Sri Lankan Sinhala Buddhists consider Shavendra Silva a true national hero and the howls of hyenas like you do not matter. Your hymie friends in the US are not even members of UNHCR anymore. Ask them, if they can, to pass a motion (which they always do internationally!) using get their hymie collective (Brazil, Latvia, and other bribe taking Zionist hymies). We will bugger them now.
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Navin / January 29, 2019
Good point. We have murderers, crooks, and liars, not being held accountable for many crimes, and we have many unsolved murders, maybe because of political pressures, or maybe our investigators are incompetent. I am sure Jaliya is weak and will sing like a bird, once the pressure is put on him.
Sillysena is sending the wrong message to the world by appointing this brutal war criminal and rewarding him with this top job. We do not reward war criminals, only rogue nations do that.
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Xi Chiang / January 29, 2019
This country has no balls to hang this butcher. All they can do is to blindly label him as ‘war hero’, because people don’t care about anything regarding tamils. ???
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lal / January 29, 2019
@ Xi Chiang
Remember that this man, General Silva saved millions of civilians from Blood Thirsty Tamil Terrorist Butchers. How can you blame people for not “caring about anything regarding Tamils when Tamils” when Tamils themselves KILLED scores of Tamils. ITJP is not a credible entity and Sooks is a nobody. Thank you Gen. Silva, for your heroic deeds to save the country and freeing 400,000 innocent Tamils of extermination by Barbaric Terrorist Tamils.
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Native Vedda / January 29, 2019
lal loo
–
“Remember that this man, General Silva saved millions of civilians from Blood Thirsty Tamil Terrorist Butchers. “
–
Did he?
Was he not hiding behind his women folks and VP’s bum when Hindian IPKF arrived with a big bang? Did he save Tamils from IPKF? What was this coward doing behind VP’s fat bum, gun running for the LTTE?
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Mallaiyuran / January 29, 2019
Lal,
It is not Sooka doesn’t know anything. In reality you have repeatedly showed it is you who have no idea of what going outside of the well frog world Wildlife Sanctuary SinhaLE Lankawe.
Yasmin Sooka is one the Expert, UNSG Ban Ki Moon appointed to find out of what happened in Zero Casualty Humanitarian Rescue Mission. The fortress built around well planned War-Without Witness , ousting out UN employee out of the country, was broken by these three experts’ report. They explained to the world it was not a Zero Casualty operation, but a War Crime with as much s 40,000 Tamil civilian death. Yasmin Sooka is continuing on that investigation, though other activist, now on other matters too. Their report made UN to investigate itself and found the death toll could be as much as 70,000. The Internal Investigation had found that Yasmin Sooka’s team’s report was not just reliable, even very conservative in its assessment. OISL report which was result of Expert Panel’s report found out 42 important figures was personally responsible for the War Crime Murders. The death number has now grown to 100,000. If one more report comes out from UN, certainly that will exceed Mannar’s Bishop’s number 150,000.
Old Royal Family has taken back their Zero Casualty now. Presidential Secretary says he want to prosecute 11 Army personnel to save the President and Old King.
Believe me, whether you like it or not, soon an Ehelepola will come out and hand over Your New King and Old to UN Electric Chair. Until that you can keep saving SavageIndra. He is not that important as much as Old King, Old Brother Prince, New King and Ponny!
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Native Vedda / January 29, 2019
Xi Chiang
–
I understand your concern about Tamils however Silva joined the army in 1984 hence he ought to have had good experience hunting down innocent Sinhala people from 1987 to 1990 under Janaka Perera, Gota, Sarath, ………………
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I don’t think he discriminated against Tamils instead he would have probably killed Sinhalese as well as Tamils, what a secular patriotic killer.
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FuXi Chang / January 29, 2019
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JD / January 29, 2019
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
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chiv / January 29, 2019
Dear ITJP, I do not agree with any of your findings because I only trust our Lankan courts. Where Sarath and Eva will be sitting on the bench attending their mobile phones (talking to Rajapaksas, in between flirting and hearing), Prof GLP will present and argue the case for the defendant, Shavendra the accused and a war hero will be in some hotel room having fun with call girls (one of war hero privileges not to be disturbed during these sessions), the victims are not present because they are no more and Sarath giving verdict in favor of Shavendra because of their absence (victim) and next day in the media conference Sarath will claim he has seen some of them outside of Lanka, GR will claim the he knows who killed them (but they may have to come personally to divulge) and MR surrounded by religious heads will reassure/reinstate public of “ZERO casualty”.Rupavahini will do direct telecast so that viewing retards, in approval will scream in unison JEYAWEWA”. I can already hear the international juries/judges shaking their heads in disgust and muttering “even God cant save this country”
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gagana / January 29, 2019
@Chitra & Xi Chiang
He butchered who had to be butchered. No remnants of LTTE butchers prevail now and never will be.
You supported LTTE and when they recruited your children and put to the War Front, you fled the country. Some fled on the pretext of refugees to earn a buck and settle down in western countries. You never had at least the spirit LTTE had. You were taking advantage of the situation then. Stop commenting
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Chitra / January 30, 2019
You have NO CLUE who we are, and we have every right to make
comments. So stop making a fool of yourself by making presumptions.
THIS REPORT STATES HE COMMITTED VARIOUS CRIMES, AND IT IS ALL BACKED BY PROOF. DEAL WITH IT. HE IS A WAR CRIMINAL.
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ManickaVasagar / January 29, 2019
Judgement Day is around the corner for Sri Lanka and for Shavendra in Geneva and the ICC. Justice or karma?
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Charles Cooray / January 29, 2019
Wonder? you received my email high lighting the injustice in Srilanka.
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cooraycharles / January 29, 2019
Mr. Vasagar,
Wonder? you received my email high lighting the injustice in Srilanka
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Buramphisincho / January 29, 2019
These are the aftershocks and reverberations – consequences of the stupid and unethical decisions made by Mafia Boss Rajathuma in the post war scenario. US ambassador position and the positions offered to Sh Silva or the like ilk are beyond questionable. There had been lot more qualified senior men to vacate those positions. But Mafia boss never heard the voices of others but their family. What is the rationale behind the appointments – nothing either to keep them safe let them enjoy impunity or seeking other selfish gains for their men. Else, a man who had been a soldier would never fit EVEN to clean the toilets of a diplomatic mission. Almost everyone noticed that Ssilva is an another Jaliya Wickrasooriya. His was not overlooked – a square peg in a round hole – consequently, all most entire world cornered srilanka by end of 2014.
President- most known mafia boss has delusion grandeur , to the manner Hitler in Germany possessed it. This became clearer to the very same audience during the 51-day conspiracy produced by SIRISENS on behalf of MAFIA BOSS. As no other leader would do, there had been open ceremonies on the cost of tax payers, amidst so called buddhist clergy being kept above-should have waster millions alone for the kind of wastful events. Today PM did not even hold a ceremony at the time he gave oaths. He is so simple as no others leaders would behave in the region.
:No matter any experts would share their thoughts, Rajapakshes never respected the recommendations of the experts. Pompous behavior grew over the period until over 6.2 mio of voters consisting of varied personalities finally strived Rajapakshe
:
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Buramphisincho / January 29, 2019
to be contd.
And what was instrumental them to fool the VERY SAME folks was the relationship between Rajapakshes and local media. Latter is the disaster in the country yet today. Media and RAJAPAKSHE men became inseparable for some hidden reasons.
Anyone who would raised the question as to why LOCAL media would not give publicity to people’s friendly issues/essential issues is because Rajaakshes are behind it. Heart patients die today not knowing that prices of STENTs are 3 fold cheaper- than the days of RAJATHUMA, but they are no of vital importance to Rajapakshe. They want LANKEN news papers to occupy their HEADLINES, even if their SONS would have been busy with jerking off, or make plans to rape another few dozens of young females, or POMPOUS father set a FART tremoring MEDAMULATA area– no matter, poor masses would have been living under poverty, they just want nothing but to indulgent with RAJAPAKSHE activities
..
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justice / January 29, 2019
Shavendra Silva was a field commander of an army which assassinated its own commander General Hector Kobbekaduwa by a bomb fitted below the right rear seat of his land rover.
The same army later held a sham court martial which by a sham trial, sentenced another commander Sarath Fonseka to three years imprisonment.
There was another “five star” General “appointed” by President Chandrika Bandaranaike – Anuruddha Ratwatte.
These Generals have established a tradition of murder of civilians in civil/military conflicts.
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Outsider / January 29, 2019
This article and most of the comments made and yet to be made will be very critical of this officer. Neither the ITJP nor some commentators will give any thought to the war theater itself and the environment in which the last war was fought. No mention has been made of the civilians taken as human shields by the LTTE and their cadres hiding in hospitals and attacking the SL troops. The ITJP report like many other similar reports have consistently ignored the tactics of the LTTE, and perhaps the very sad but unfortunate result resulting from troops firing at the LTTE without being fully aware of civilians human shields. Contrary to the comments made condemning this officer, there will be hundreds and thousands of grateful Sri Lankans, both Tamils and Sinhalese and Muslims who will wish to say a big thank you to this officer for saving the country from the LTTE and preventing further deliberate killings by the LTTE.
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Chitra / January 30, 2019
You are comparing terrorists to the official military of a democratic nation. WE SHOULD ACT BETTER THAN TERRORISTS, NOT LIKE THEM.
WHY ARE PEOPLE IMPRESSED WITH A WAR CRIMINAL WHOSE CRIMES ARE JUST LIKE THOSE HE KILLED?
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Ash / January 29, 2019
Innocent blood on your hands, an animal.
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Chamuditha Senanayaka / January 29, 2019
This is nonsense.
It was a war fought with ruthless LTTE terrorists by brave srilankan soldieres.
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SKM / January 29, 2019
I wonder why we sacrificed lives, limbs and eyes of thousands of soldiers if the forces were involved in indiscriminate killings as reported by Sooka’s witnesses after 9 years.. They could have done the job by remote control without suffering any casualties.
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Chitra / January 30, 2019
You should know the difference between fighting a war avoiding civilians casualties, and to win without raping women, torturing innocent people, and committing war crimes. If you wear the uniform of your country, you are suppose to honor it, by acting honorably.
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Buddhist / January 29, 2019
Its time President appoints a Presidential Commission to investigate if these allegations are true, until then he has to be removed the post of CDS. If the President does not do this, this CDS or future Chief of Army will never be able to step out of Sri Lanka for his life.
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / January 29, 2019
May God Bless you son!!!
And Thank you for putting the finishing touches on a war effort that we all so dearly fought. You and your men that day in May 2009 were majestic.
The only regret I have is, you lucky bastards collected some pretty good war trophies. Especially, that good looking Isaipriya.
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justice / January 29, 2019
Shamal Perera,
Your comment about ‘war trophies’ and Isaipriya confirms the attitude of the army towards women of the northeast as “prey” of the rapist army let loose without supervision.
This continues even now with women sexually assaulted in their homes and after abductions.
They dare not do this in the south.
“lucky” BASTARDS !
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / January 29, 2019
Justice,
Army will fight any monkey who acts against the nation. Sinhalese, Tamil, Burgher, Muslim. East, West, South or North.
You probably were a baby born after the 1972 and 1989 JVP periods or you are suffering from a serious case of amnesia.
This girl Isaipriya was a LTTE Television girl. We won’t spare anyone even faintly connected with the LTTE. She should have known those consequences before she joined the LTTE television sets.
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Tamil from the north / January 30, 2019
Ado Retarded Shemale Perehera nutter, while this butcher was butchering innocent folks you were hiding under a bed holding your 2 inch wand and scratching your balls? Disgusting piece of sh$t!!
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Kumar R. / January 30, 2019
Shamal,
Not surprising from a community that lives off the blood money from Arabs, by eagerly sending their wives, mothers, sisters and daughters to quench the carnal thirst of the camel-riders, and who return in body-bags along with some precious Riyals as pay-off!
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Raping, torture and mass killings is just peanuts for these esteemed Budhists – God Bless the sons indeed! Mothers, wives, sisters and daughters are nothing more than Riyal makers, never mind how!!
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / January 30, 2019
Kumar R,
It’s the Tamils who are going to Middle East mostly nowadays. So much so that we can’t even find a Tamil servant these days. Because they have all gone to Middle East to please the Mullahs.
We used to own 4 Tamils in our ancestral home. Two worked in the fields, 1 worked as the cook, the other was a cleaning woman. The two who worked the fields are men. They are still there. But the two women are gone to the Middle East.
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Kumar R. / January 30, 2019
In your dreams Shamal. Sinhala women are going as maids to even Bangalore and Chennai as the Arab women wake-up to the true “services” of the Sinhala maids!! Very soon to Bangladesh too I guess.
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Native Vedda / January 30, 2019
Kumar R
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Please stop bullying the retarded shameless Perera.
You are now forcing him to rewrite his family history.
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This unemployed and unemployable Walter Mitty character daydreaming fantasist will never find a job in his lifetime therefore he has to send his women folks to medieval middle east kingdoms to eke out a living.
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Tamil from the north / January 30, 2019
Retarded Shemale bugger, you had a home? I never knew a shack is a home. Bloody loser and a third class circus clown.
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Nathan / January 30, 2019
She Male Perera when these women were working for you where were your wife sleeping, may be in the field with the male workers.
So you were fantasising Isaipriya and enjoying life. Hope you are not the guy who killed Manamperi in 1971?
She male where do they train you guys to kill people? It is like fish taking to water.
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DP / January 30, 2019
Rt.Lt.She-male,
What are you doing these days in the west? Afraid that you would get caught for war crimes? Shameless army deserter, prove you’ve got some ba**s, without showing your power on the keyboard
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chiv / January 29, 2019
Guys LTTE for all purpose was known and later termed as a terrorist outfit. So the excuse of recruiting children, human shield and rest of are lame and flimsy. And by repeating over and over by various governments it is now stale and of no use. Where has new evidence and information on Lankan army violations , war crimes,murder, rape, knowingly attacking civilians to cause maximum casualty and post war crimes which continued through out MR era, will continue to keep international bodies and activist busy. And to make things worse what ever MS/MR and the rest are up to in hiding or blocking these investigations, will only convince the wrong doings beyond doubt. So try telling a different story.(though it is too late). Post war, SL government was given enough chances to conduct a truthful and transparent investigation, where a South Africa kind of a deal would have been possible. But as usual our Modayas not only ignored pleas but continued with more crimes and to the extent of threatening and name calling.They were day dreaming of China coming for help where China it self is hit with sanctions and tariff.So continue with excuses to your peril
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sach / January 29, 2019
ITJP headed by Sooka, who happened to be in UN’s expert panel which produced an unprofessional report on SL war crimes ( which questions the honesty and impartiality of the UN group) always publishes some report with a bomb shell title. But when you read it and go through it, every time you will realise there is actually NOTHING in it except refurbishing the same old stuff.
Their argument always goes like this, this and this army unit bombed civilians, this army official, president or secretary bombed the civilians deliberately…..their evidence? ..mm they commanded the unit so they are automatically responsible.
Also this shows Sooka and her team is STILL looking for evidences for what they have already accused the SL armed forces of. So they are practically accuse some one for some serious offence, taint him as a war criminal and then search for evidences. This actually questions what they and UN have been doing all these while.
And finally why should an army which is on the verge of defeating LTTE needs to deliberately target civilians and create circumstances for international outcry which can be used by the LTTE for a ceasefire. We all know LTTE held a human shield ( which had become a less offensive charge as human buffer in Sooka’s UN report in 2011) to create a humanitarian crisis and more civilian deaths hoping there would be an international meddling which would have given more life to LTTE (Pulidevan in Francis Harrison’s Still Counting the dead).
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Chitra / January 30, 2019
After all that deflection, the bottom line is NO ONE CAN DEFEND THESE SERIOUS CHARGES, and trying to blame the investigators, and UN officials, is stupid. They have PROOF this man committed war crimes, and should be tried for war crimes, not protected by those who ordered him to do whatever he wanted, including allowing women and girls to be raped. Shame on us.
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Sach / January 30, 2019
Any idiot can bring charges.if Sooka accuse you of rape next time do you become a rapist. If Americans saved LTTE in 2009 I am pretty sure Prabhakaran would be heading an INGO INGOS human rights now. it is that simple
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chiv / January 29, 2019
Thank you retarded Shamal Perera for helping ITJP and others who are investigating these war crimes. Now Lankan army and government should understand who is helping with these investigations and providing information.You do not need sooka or any other outsiders to dig your graves.
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Eagle Eye / January 29, 2019
Most notorious war criminals in this world are George W. Bush and Tony Blair. In Sri Lanka, the Government carried out a military operation against terrorists but these two went to war in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria without any valid reason and killed thousands and thousands of innocent civilians. Yasmin Hooka, why don’t you file war crime charges against these two guys if you have guts to do so. Unfortunately, ‘Koti Diaspora’ will not fund such an endeavor. ‘Koti Diaspora’ will pump $$$s to U only to frame war crime charges against Sri Lankan Armed Forces.
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Native Vedda / January 30, 2019
Eagle Blind Eye
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“Most notorious war criminals in this world are George W. Bush and Tony Blair. “
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Forget Yasmin Sooka for a while. Go after both, catch them and drag them all the way to Hague. Tony Blair was on holiday in Sri Lanka only a few months ago. You missed him.
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K.Pillai / January 29, 2019
SL has been on the UNHRC radar for quite a while. Successive GoSL have opposed resolutions or even co-sponsored some. This at best gave some time but the radar is still active.
Strangely the matter is in the hands of MR, MS and RW. MR made political capital off the UNHRC, MS is trying to. RW has to be cautious because SLPP will convert meaningful moves into votes.
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The only untried act will be to tell UN “Get lost”. Should we?
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punchinilame / January 29, 2019
The whole set-up, under the fierce support of MY3 currently brings to the scene the Forces involved
currently on various shades of corruption etc. A record of allegations are:-
a)Wasantha Karannagoda Com. Navy during the war. Missing youth in 2008 – 2009.
b)Kapila Hendawitharana, ex.Chief of National Intelligence. re a Jaffna-based satellite TV Group.
c)Jagath Jayasuriya, ex- Army (Vanni) Commander re. the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda.
d)Donald Perera, ex-Air Force Commander/Chief of Defence Staff re the 2006 MiG deal.
e)Roshan Goonetillake ex.Air force Commander. Questioned by the FCID regarding the MiG deal.
f)Daya Ratnayake ex. Army Commander re Serious Acts of Fraud in EP and Corruption about the removal of scrap iron from the Kankesanturai Cement factory.
g)Jayanath Colombage . ex-Commander of the Navy charged over the Avant Guard case.
h)Somatilleke Dissanayake ex Commander of the Navy charged over the Avant Guard case.
i)Jayantha Perera ex. Commander of the Navy charged over the Avant Guard case.
j)Police DIG K. L. M. Sarathchandra arrested for the misappropriation of a vehicle.
k)Police DIG Anura Senanayake – remand for allegedly covering up Thajudeen’s alleged murder.
l)Major Gen. (Rtd) Mahinda Hathurusinghe:re Serious Acts of Fraud and Corruption re the removal of scrap iron from the Kankesanturai Cement factory.
m)Major Gen. (Rtd) Udaya Perera & Director Operations of the Army re Serious Acts of Fraud and Corruption about the removal of scrap iron from the Kankesanturai Cement factory.
n)Navy Commodore D.K.P.Dassanayake. re Missing youth 2008-09
o)Directors of Military Intelligence Amal Karunasekera and Major Gen. Suresh Sallay. Questioned. Three Navy officers were arrested and tried for the assassination of parliamentarian Nadarajah Raviraj but all of them were acquitted.
F.M. Sarath Fonseka – and ex-DS Gotabaya Rajapakse are also linked to the Forces.
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Chitra / January 30, 2019
That is quite a lot of scumbags who have disgraced this country. A bunch of crooks, murderers, and assassins, who have got away with all their brutal crimes. This is Sri Lanka for you, where you cannot trust those who wear our uniform and take an oath to serve the country.
A disgraceful lot.
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K.Pillai / January 29, 2019
SL has been on the radar of UNHRC for quite a while. Some UNHRC resolutions were opposed and some co-sponsored. The only gain is some more time.
As to whether or not we stay in the radar is in the hands of MR, MS and RW.
MR has gained political gains off the UNHRC stand. MR is trying to.
RW has be cautious because SLPP will label any meaningful moves ‘treacherous’ and covert this into votes.
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Should we tell the UN “Get lost”?
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Real Revolutionist / January 29, 2019
Outsiders didn’t know the ground situation so they don’t have ethical right to comment/deal with Sri Lankan matters; very especially when SL forces had been fighting with terrorists.
They should have watched LTTE behavior rather than SL forces’ behavior & charge terrorists for war crimes & HR violations.
Terrorism must be dealt with terrorism.
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Native Vedda / January 30, 2019
Real Revolutionist
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“Outsiders didn’t know the ground situation so they don’t have ethical right to comment/deal with Sri Lankan matters; very especially when SL forces had been fighting with terrorists.”
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Well Hindians and Uncle Sam picked all your targets from electronic intelligence, spy satellites, high altitude aerial photograph, ……………… and ask you to commit war crimes by blindly firing artillery shells, bombs, multi barrels, ……. Hindians watched the LTTE too long as a result they persuaded Chandrika to go the whole hog. In early 2005 Hindians provided Sri Lanka with every bit of military support from A to Z.
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thondamany / January 30, 2019
Something smells. A rat ? Why is racism & double standards? To assist reconciliation?
Have we not had had enough of violence & vengeance? How many low caste youth we are going to sacrifice?
SL has been on the radar of the UNHRC for quite sometime.
However… USA is off the hook.
Christoph Flugge.. A top Judge in the UN International Court in the Hague had this to say;
“Shocking Political Interference from White House & Turkey” – Guardian.
White House Interference – USA threaten ICC Judges on an Investigation in to the conduct of USA Soldiers in Afganistan.
John Bolton, National Security Adviser of USA, wished death on ICC – Guardian
” If Judges interfere in domestic concerns of USA or Investigate an USA citizens, USA Government will ensure the Judges will not be permitted to enter the USA or Criminally prosecuted.
CHRISTOPH FLUGGE SAID, Court stunned by John Bolton’s hostility. –
Report by Casey Quackanbush, CNN, 29/Jan/2019.
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Chitra / January 30, 2019
Stop pointing to other countries. The US is disgraceful, so is Israel, and how they keep getting away with their crimes against civilians.
We are supposed to be a Buddhist nation and killing, torturing, and raping women should not be tolerated.
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Mano / January 30, 2019
ELECT HIM AS PRESIDENT AND HE WILL GET ALL THE HONOURS OF THE WORLD ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AND A CHAPTER IN THE MAHAVAMSA FOR FU..ING THE DEMALO IN THEIR A..SE.
YOU CAN’T SEE A WORLD LEADER WITHOUT BLOOD IN THEIR HANDS.
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Nathan / January 30, 2019
Mano, Well said, we need more modays like you to uplift Mother Lanka and its pride. You brain can only go up to that distance and you are our man mate. I am sure you must be a parliamentarian.
Killing is the only thing known to the Lions progeny, but lion only kills when hungry but its progeny kills for fun and as a pride.
Ha…ha…Mahavamsa or Mahavambu and already Mahintha Maamaa is in its edited version along with Gnanasara.
Mano Aiya, elect this guy as President and and Gota as PM and watch the fun. Modays can only see things after messing them up.
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Eagle Eye / January 30, 2019
Mano,
Demalu can see blood only in the hands of Sri Lankan Armed Forces. These dumbos have completely forgotten what IPKF did to Demala people. They committed more war crimes than Sri Lankan Armed Forces but Yasmin Hooka is silent on those crimes because ‘Koti Diaspora’ does not pump $$$s to Yasmin Hooka to bring war crimes charges against IPKF.
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sach / February 1, 2019
If a real War criminal like Obama can get Nobel peace prize, why cant a military general who actually rid a population from terrorism?
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Good Sense / January 30, 2019
Shavendra Silva was right through in the army including the period from Jan 2015 up to now. Why is this noise made only when he is appointed the chief of staff? Strictly speaking whether the man is COS or not if he is guilty of war crimes he has to be dealt with. No point reading out like a charge sheet, produce the evidence. If Sooka and company has that why not submit them in forms of affidavits to the AG? Sooka & Co produced some dossier against a head of a Sri Lankan contingent on a UN mission prompting the recall of the head only. If it is that serious he too should have been prosecuted. But Sooka and the lot were only content with the recall. Why? I get the smell that Sooka plays according to the tune of some insiders in the army itself and if that is so it is very sad.
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Rtd. Lt. Reginold Shamal Perera / January 30, 2019
Strange the website is not flooded with Lansi gonorrheal fluid yet on this subject. A deviation to the theory that ‘scum always floats to the surface’!
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His venom against Sri Lankan patriots and our nation’s independence comes from his hatred of land reform and vested interests in occupying stolen land.
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Patriots like Shavendra should be given all the national kudos we can, to take this nation back to the golden age of Dutu Gaemunu.
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Tilak / January 30, 2019
So say CT”s racist commenter.
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chiv / January 30, 2019
Real revolutionist , are you for real?????. Machan, Eagle squint/skewed eye, your logic is the best “I saw people raping a girl so I joined them” is that what you are trying to say?????
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