Courtesy The Daily Mirror

The appointment of Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva as Army Commander is a sovereign decision by the Head of State and the comments made by foreign entities over the appointment were ‘unwarranted and unacceptable’, the Sri Lankan Government said today.

In a statement referring to the comments made since the appointment of Lieutenant General Silva as Army Commander, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said the appointment was a sovereign decision by the Head of State of Sri Lanka.

Foreign entities trying to influence the decisions and internal administrative processes of public service promotions in Sri Lanka is unwarranted and unacceptable. Articulating a position of concern on this appointment by certain bilateral partners and international organisations based on allegations is regrettable and contrary to the principles of natural justice espoused by all responsible members of the international community,” it said.

Lieutenant General Silva was appointed as the Army Commander by President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday.

The appointment was criticized by the UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, the Governments of US and Canada citing ‘alleged human rights violations committed by Lieutenant General Silva’.