Diplomatic post for Brigadier in charge of Weliweriya
Monday, 26 May 2014 00:04
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Military says officer was earmarked for posting for contribution to ending terrorism
Can be recalled at any stage if court martial convened on Weliweriya: Military Spokesman
By Dharisha Bastians
The controversial commanding officer in charge of the Weliweriya operation last year and war veteran Brigadier Deshapriya Gunewardane has been posted to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Turkey as its Defence Attaché, the military confirmed yesterday.
Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya told the Daily FT that the officer had left for Turkey a few weeks ago, to take up his post.
“Brigadier Gunewardane was earmarked for a diplomatic posting since 2009 for his contribution to the humanitarian operation from Mavil Aru to Vellamullivaikal,” the Military Spokesman said.
Brigadier Gunewardane had previously been confined to barracks by the Sri Lanka Army while a military Court of Inquiry conducted its investigation into the Weliweriya incident.
But Brigadier Wanigasooriya said the Court of Inquiry had recommended that a summary of evidence be collected from all those involved. “Brigadier Gunewardane had finished giving evidence. He has not been declared guilty of anything. This posting was due to him, for his contribution to Sri Lanka’s victory over terrorism,” he explained.
The Military Spokesman added that the military’s Legal Director would study the summary of evidence on Weliweriya and then decide if a court martial was necessary.
“If a court martial is convened, Brigadier Gunewardane can be recalled at any time. These things are not irreversible,” the Military Spokesman said.
Several top military officials were serving in Sri Lankan missions overseas, Brigadier Wanigasooriya said, having been selected for their role in militarily defeating the LTTE.
On 1 August 2013, three civilians were shot dead, two of them schoolboys, when the Government sent the military in to quell a demonstration by Weliweriya residents demanding clean drinking water.
The incident caused widespread outrage and has been taken up at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where Sri Lanka will soon be facing a probe into alleged abuses during the last seven years of the war.
