The Department of State has designated Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, current Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and Acting Chief of Defense Staff, as required under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, due to credible information of his involvement, through command responsibility, in gross violations of human rights, namely extrajudicial killings, by the 58th Division of the Sri Lanka Army during the final phase of Sri Lanka’s Civil War in 2009.
Shavendra Silva
Issuing a statement today, United States Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo said: “Section 7031(c) provides that, in cases where the Secretary of State has credible information that foreign officials have been involved in a gross violation of human rights or significant corruption, those individuals and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States. The law also requires the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate such officials and their immediate family members. In addition to the public designation of Shavendra Silva, the Department is also designating his immediate family members.
“The allegations of gross human rights violations against Shavendra Silva, documented by the United Nations and other organizations, are serious and credible. His designation underscores the importance we place on human rights in Sri Lanka and globally, our concern over impunity for human rights violations and abuses, as well as our support for promoting accountability for those who engage in such acts. 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.
“We deeply value our partnership with the Sri Lankan government and the long-standing democratic tradition we share with the Sri Lankan people. The United States remains committed to strengthening the bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka and helping reshape its security forces to tackle current and emerging threats. Security cooperation will continue to emphasize respect for human rights as a fundamental component of our training, assistance, and engagements.
“The United States will continue to use all available tools and authorities, as appropriate, to address human rights violations and abuses around the world no matter when they occurred or who perpetrated them. Today’s actions underscore our commitment to support human rights, promote accountability for perpetrators, and encourage reconciliation in support of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Sri Lanka.”
JD / February 15, 2020
This Huff and Puff is nothing much. Army Commander can not visit USA. That is all. Two NGOs, Frances Harrison and one Meenakshi Ganguli are having panic attacks because, Officer from the final battle in Gon Kalapuwa was appointed the Commander. Probably, they all including their Financier lost a lot. So, their human rights are important than the human respect for the Sri Lankan society.
I am pretty sure, we do not get the $ 480,000 freeby.
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babalawathie mudunkotuwa / February 15, 2020
Today s srilanka is a world of uneducated people.
Please see what this lady has to say about lanken society.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evIJg5KSl0A
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Most of them would not appreciate if a woman would come up and heart out in compliance with the world norms. Woman is given not a place in lanken society even if our Mrs B broke records then becoming the world s first female PM
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Sam Fernando / February 15, 2020
Ranil led govt handled it nicely, but today, BP Rajapakshes has ruined it again. Abusive media painted it in favour of Rajakashe rascals. Now not being able to balance the basics … the brother duo has been falling even deeper.
:
:
Please listen to the below video
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmU0zLnYP9w
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Eagle Eye / February 15, 2020
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Amarasiri / February 16, 2020
Sam Fernando,
Thanks for the utube link.
Isn’t MaRa trying to organize a Pirith Ceremony with the monks, including prostitution to the monks, to seek the blessings of the Triple Gem, so that all the counties to whom Sri Lanka owes, will grant reliefs and moratoriums for 3 years?
Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu, Saaaa.
Owed: India 2.5 percent
China 12.5 percent
Other countries, 85 percent.
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Amarasiri / February 16, 2020
Correction:
Prostration, NOT, Prostitution.
“monks, including prostitution to the monks, to seek the blessings of the Triple Gem, so ..”
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Alfred Joseph / February 19, 2020
The Triple Gem will not help. The Buddhists should find a more powerful Gem.
Pirith ceremonies are waste of time and energy. They must use Devil ceremonies.
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Baka Moona / February 15, 2020
The US has imposed sanctions on Sri Lanka’s chief of army staff, Lt Gen Shavendra Silva, for war crimes committed at final stages of the conflict against the Tamil Tigers in 2009, when up to 70,000 Tamil civilians were killed.
The US travel ban against Silva and his family marks the first time any of the leading suspects in the mass killings have been held accountable on the world stage.
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JD / February 16, 2020
With respect to my earlier story, Kenya has told all the LTTE cader suicide bombers and ZAHARANs to inform them if something different happens.
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Tamy Johnston - New York / February 21, 2020
Mass Murderers and their Families keep off from USA.
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Burt / February 15, 2020
JD from the start of this to the above post you have had many reasons why, yoou should be really panicked. Why don’t you give one reason and stick to it than becoming a laughing stock.
Here is one way to look at it, whole world knew he was an accused war criminal, USA publicly advertised it and recorded.. It would do this to any war criminal to reduce paperwork and time of public servants.
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latha / February 16, 2020
Burt
Whole world know USA is a war criminal. USA is not the Heaven to go. How many in Sri Lanka wants to go there. You better check how many Tamils were banned by other countries starting from India to USA. Even Prabakaran’s old mother was not allowed to enter in India.
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Burt / February 16, 2020
Latha
What is your point? Relevance?
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jayt / February 24, 2020
may be you live in a day dream, come see where the Tamil are!
Within 15 years, Canada become next “Tamil Nadu” US is same. Next Europe and Australia. Western men and women from each Western country have taught Tamil “this is your country.” And they proved it for last thirty years. And to make things worst Sinhalese traitor Modayas and Buddhist monks traitor-Modayas installed “Malay-Chinese tribe” as their rulers. Tamil Tigers supporters in the west laugh and enjoy it to the fullest.
Moreover, when Tiger supporters in the west want to “strengthen” Malay-Chinese tribe’s power, all they have to say “war crime,” then, Sinhalese Modayas fall into that trick and give more power to Malay-Chinese tribe.
Beautiful part of this covert operation is western Tamil Tiger supporters do not spend money at all to control Sinhalese Modayas and their bribery monks Modayas. All they do is sit down near a computer anywhere in a Western capital and deliver propaganda to be eaten by Sinhalese Modayas and monks Modayas. They chew these propaganda like “buffalos chew hays.”
Now the whole world knows that it is so easy to control Sinhala Modayas and Buddhist monks Modayas because they don’t know that they are voting and promoting foreign tribes who had brought to sri lanka by colonialists to kill our great grand parents.
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Sinhala Baudhaya / February 24, 2020
Breaking News
Sri Lanka imposes sanction against President Trump as such President Trump will not be able to visit Sri Lanka after his visit oi India.
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Cyril Martyn / February 24, 2020
Tit for Tat
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chiv / February 15, 2020
Now we know why absconding Udayanga suddenly showed up at our door steps from no where. Lankan prisons are definitely much luxurious compared to foreign countries, for VVIP,s. It is better to keep all vital evidence in Lanka than outside.
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nimal / February 15, 2020
Then why did he applied to go to USA..?
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latha / February 17, 2020
nimal
He did not applied Visa to go to USA
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Flying Peacock / February 15, 2020
What is the need for “Sharva-Venthan” to go to US anyway?
Doesn’t he get “Sharva” treatment in SL?
World leaders should pickup Gota’s punchline saying that democratically elected leader of a country shouldn’t be challenged for just fulfilling the wishes of majority of his citizens!
Should the Lion be forced to lease the space over the jungle to Dragon and Eagle without disappointing the dream of a peacock?
Perhaps Modi should take an initiative to invade SL so that stolen items by King Ravenna in Chinbangota can be recovered to fulfill the wishes of majority of citizens in India.
This should be the best rated reality show in coming years!
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John Anderson / February 15, 2020
Was Shavendra’s wife and kids also fighting in the Mullativu battle fronts..?
Can the champions of human rights please explain this modern logic of human rights of punishing wife and kids?
I was wondering whether we are still living in the medieval age (or may be the so called Dollar-Euro driven human rights crusaders) ?
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Native Vedda / February 15, 2020
John Anderson
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“I was wondering whether we are still living in the medieval age (or may be the so called Dollar-Euro driven human rights crusaders) ?”
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No Johnny, we have just entered into the Dark Ages, Saffron brigades are determined to form a Theocracy using Rajapaksa family as a ladder, ………………. people have been forced to abandon curiosity, rationality, sense of justice and direction, ………….. and made to trust all political gimmicks, tyrants, war criminals, …………..
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Since you are more than concerned about Silva’s family, you should start fighting the neo con American Imperialist and teach them what Human Rights meant to the people of this island.
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We will be right behind you.
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Eusense / February 15, 2020
“We will be right behind you”
Yes, that’s what keyboard worriers like you did when young Tamils were fighting a terror war which wiped out a generation of Tamils.
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Native Vedda / February 16, 2020
Eusense
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I am sorry I can’t help you to carry your Padikkam (spittoon). Just hang on until sach returns from her usual session of washing up.
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Sita / February 15, 2020
Why, do they want to go shopping? There are other destinations where they will be welcome.
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Mervin N / February 16, 2020
It’s so much clear, in very near future they can’t even entering any destination apart from China,Pakistan and Russia.
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Mallaiyuran / February 15, 2020
Johnny,
Ask Savage Indra if Pirapaharan 12 years child was fighting against the War Criminal Rapist Army? How many of the 150,000 bulldozed out Mullaitivu victims took arm against the Rapist Army?
Ask Savage Indra’s wife to appeal to America that she was not in the Rapist Army and she condemns the Genocide so she should be let in America. (Just don’t play political propaganda, thinking the CT readers as Biriyani-Arrack seeking Sinhala Buddhist voters)
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Kabaragoya / February 15, 2020
Why were you not concerned when the son of Prabhakaran was shot dead while being fed biscuits? Why are you not concerned with the mothers of the missing in war both Sinhalese and Tamils? On the basis of command liability, the issue is how far the US is willing to take this doctrine and who else will be caught in the net.
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whywhy / February 15, 2020
John ,
Parents are gods ! Teachers are gods ! Doctors are gods ! Monks are gods !
Politicians are gods ! You name it ! Doesn’t sound medieval ? Just outward
appearance won’t make anything modern john and I hope you agree.
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Immediacy19 / February 15, 2020
JA
Was Balachandran aged 11, fighting at Nandikadal?
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Burt / February 16, 2020
Was Prabakarans 12 year old son that was captured alive and then murdered fighting in the war?
What goes around comes around.
Sometimes wife and children pay a huge price for the crimes of the parents. Mother or Father.
Currently immigration is a major issue in USA and Canada, There are many families in USA that have been deported because of the criminal action of one. In some cases the deported children were born in USA. There is a Sinhala family in Edmonton fighting deportation two of the children were born in Canada. Its not their fault but they will be paying the price.
Although USA is not perfect they made the right decision.
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SarathP / February 15, 2020
Sarath Fonseka can’t get a visa to enter the US either. Because of war crimes.
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Native Vedda / February 15, 2020
SarathP
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“Sarath Fonseka can’t get a visa to enter the US either. Because of war crimes.”
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He visited USA at least twice since the end of war.
Find out how both Gota and Fonseka got their Green Card in the first place.
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Raj-UK / February 15, 2020
Good. Hope other countries do the same. There are others who should be in the black list, particularly at the top who gave the orders. Will USA do the same for GR & his family? After all, SS was just an army bum sucker like many others who just followed orders.
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Deshapremie / February 15, 2020
This noble war hero should wear this intended American slight as a Badge of Honour.
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Who wants to go to that hell hole of a country anyway?
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Native Vedda / February 15, 2020
Deshapremie
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“Who wants to go to that hell hole of a country anyway?”
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From which part of the US are you sending you typing?
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umberto / February 15, 2020
Deshapremie
Are you referring to sinhala srilanka when you wrote “Who wants to go to that hell hole of a country anyway?”
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lal / February 17, 2020
No, referring to the dirty, squalid state of Tamil Nadu.
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Eagle Eye / February 15, 2020
Typical hypocrisy of ‘Para’ Suddas. Arm twisting in order to get MCC signed.
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Eagle Eye / February 15, 2020
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Native Vedda / February 15, 2020
Eagle Brain Dead Eyesore.
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Brilliant
Thanks
Keep up your good work.
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Buddhist / February 15, 2020
Interesting to note Rajapakses are so upset about US banning Shavendra and family from visiting USA but the same Rajapakses have forgotten they banned Canadian Politician (not a military accused human rights violator) Bob Rae from visiting SL, that too after giving him a visa, he was turned back from Katunayake airport.
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justice / February 15, 2020
Sri Lanka was ruled by kings who killed for the throne.
https://www.facebook.com/colombotelegraph/posts/professor-carlo-fonseka-wrote-i-do-not-find-that-reading-the-mahavamsa-enhances-/928708697164485/
This went on till Portugeese, Dutch and British took over.
After the British left, the majority started killing the minority for power.
Gotabaya and Shavendra are by products.
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Guruge / February 15, 2020
Deshapremi,
Once a fox also said the same “sour grapes”. Sad, no?
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Eusense / February 15, 2020
Tell Trump his family can build a Trump Tower/Hotel in Sri Lanka. That will lift all sanctions on SS overnight.
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Mervin N / February 16, 2020
Trump family is wealthy and prominent unlike rajapakse family.
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Burt / February 16, 2020
You mean like bribing China with prime real estate in the heard of Colombo.
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Burt / February 16, 2020
Should read “heart”.
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Tam Selva / February 15, 2020
World Tamils should plead with our Tamil Gods according to our ancient beliefs, for positive intervention on behalf of 80 million Tamils “enslaved” in many forms. We should never ask for any evil on perpetrators but Freedom for our future generations. God given freedom is taken away by men in case of Tamils. I am mindful of cruelty on Tamils for last 70+ years. Its high time we come out of it.
All Tamil religious (Saivas etc) Catholics, Christians and Muslims should be in unison to plead our case against crimes against humanity which occurs non stop.
Australia intentionally let thousands drown in boats, including 249 people in December 2019. It detains only if boats heading to reach shore otherwise Australians let them hit the rocks. Remember China aided killing in NE of Lanka? Same with many others players.
Tamils should invoke our ancient teachings and modernize our practices to match 2020, and plead with our Gods, for our “Freedom” to “live and let live” like Nelson Mandela did.
Our worship places should dedicate times and services just to ask for Justice and Peace, Fairness and Freedom for our future generations. We must boldly and fearlessly, use our Bells and sound systems to plead Gods for intervention, on a daily basis.
Yes I do pray in a personal level for last 30+ years, as I am against all forms of violence. But I prayed to the heart beat of 5 elements, Our God, and all spiritual masters, as per Tamil Religion, to prove God’s existence. The powers keep proving it day by day, if you follow world events today.
Tamils should not be divided by invaders name tag “Hindu”, or planted groups, politics, social status, citizenship, caste, but united by the most Humane culture, customs and way of life called “TAMIL”.
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Pon Kulendiren / February 15, 2020
Oh, who said that the Sri Lankan army with the help of 11 or more countries killed thousands of Tamil If the UN charges SrLank it should charge the countries including India in supporting Sri Lanka to kill people Sri Lankan army would not have won the war against LTTE if there was no support from Many countries.. Mahinda accepted that they won the war because of India and arms received from Pakistan and support from China. How would you call the Sri Lankan army brave warriors? It should have been faced to face fight with LTTE. The outcome would have been different. During1971 JVP Rebellion because India supported them they defeated JVP We have to accept the truth Now Gota things that he is the hero who defeated LTEE. Utter rubbish. The Maodaus only will believe him
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JD / February 16, 2020
Pon Kulendran:
LTTE Maaveerars won the war with catapaults, galkatas, their own multi barrels, suicide bombers and home guns… Why did they help to destroy ONLY the KP’s weapon transporting ships ?
It is Tamil women on street corners foreign credit cards, many illegal businesses, robberies that funded it. Di you have enough Thali kodies to help it?
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Burt / February 16, 2020
JD
Is age catching up to you or were you born a nut case. Your writing is not cohesive, no one can understand what the crap your trying to say.
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Tamil from the north / February 18, 2020
@JD, hahahaha the Thali kodis are all with Shiranthi Rajapaksa. The fat cow looks like someone pumped helium gas into her face. But who gives a sh&t what you think? KP is working for the Rajapaksas.
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whywhy / February 15, 2020
Where are they , Rathana and his kerosene oil ? Wimal , Gamman , Dinesh
and Madumadawa ? For me , it is too early to paint a picture of what’s in the
cloud .
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