MoD denies allegations against Shavendra by Wimal

By Darashana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

The Ministry of Defence today denied allegations by National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa against Chief of Defence Staff and former Army Commander Shavendra Silva in which he alleged that General Silva supported the conspiracy to create an interim administration in Sri Lanka using the ‘Aragalaya’ anti-government protests in 2022.  
Addressing an event, MP Weerawansa had alleged that the first plan by those behind the protests on May 09, 2022 was to assassinate the then Executive President and the defense heads inside the President’s House and that General Shavendra Silva’s visit to India, aroused suspicion.  

Deputy National Security Advisor Level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave, a security conference organized between friendly countries in the South Indian Ocean region, was held in India on 07 July 2022.   

The MoD emphasized that under the directions and approval of the then President of Sri Lanka and the Defense Ministry, General Shavendra Silva participated in the meeting representing the Government of Sri Lanka.  

Accordingly, the Ministry of Defense further emphasized that the above statement of the MP is baseless and General Silva was on an official visit to India in July 2022 to attend the meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave with the approval of the then President and Ministry of Defense.

• Under the directions and approval of the then President of Sri Lanka and the Defense Ministry, General Shavendra Silva participated in the meeting representing the Government of Sri Lanka