Probe sought on Shavendra over May 9-10 violence

An investigation has been sought on Chief of Defence Staff and former Army Commander General Shavendra Silva over his failure to take steps to prevent the violence which took place on 09th and 10th May 2022.

A committee headed by Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda has proposed that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) investigate the lapses by State Intelligence, Police and the Armed Forces during the mass anti-government protests and violent incidents which took place across the island last May, reports said.

The committee has proposed that General Shavendra Silva be investigated for failing to take action to prevent the violence on 09th and 10th May 2022 which resulted in property, including houses owned by Ministers and MPs, being destroyed or damaged.

It was reported that the Defence Secretary had issued orders to take steps to prevent the violence from taking place.

However, the orders were not communicated to the relevant officials at the time.

The report by the committee was handed over to President Ranil Wickremesinghe in September and a copy was presented to the Court of Appeal last week.

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had appointed the three-member committee headed by Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda which also included Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Gunathilake and General R. M. Daya Ratnayake. (Colombo Gazette)