[58 Division Commander Brigadier Shavendra Silva and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa]
Popular Sri Lanka news website LankaeNews has published an evidence provided to International Community (most probably to UN as well) on infamous white flag case during the final days of Vanni war. SLB republish the LeN story below:
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White Flag Incident
Date: 5/17/2009
Time: 11.45 am – 12.30pm
Place: Wellamulliwikkal, MLT Sri Lanka (58 Division Operationss room)
When the instructions from Mr.Gotabhaya Rajapaksha the Secretary Defence of Sri Lanka to the 58 Division Commander Brigadier Shavendra Silva( Now Major General) was passed down over the telephone I was with the Brigadier. I was functioning as one of the defence correspondents attached to 58 Division.
The conversation took place is as follows.
Time:11.45am 1st call.
Mr.Gotabayaya Rajapaksha to Brigadier Shavendra Silva
Ordered not to accommodate any LTTE leaders attempting to surrender and informed that they all should be killed.
Time: 12.00 noon. -2nd call.
Mr.Gotabayaya Rajapaksha to Brigadier Shavendra Silva.
Mr. Rajapaksha confirmed his order to Brigadier Shavendra Silva and informed about the International influence the LTTE is trying to bring upon on the Government at that time.
There after at about 12.15pm the Division Commander Brigadier Shavendra Silva having summoned his Brigade Commanders and Commanding Officers briefed them on what Secretary Defence told him.
However I do not know whether the troops on ground carried out the above instructions or not .
After two days time on the 19th I called the Commander of the Army General Sarath Fonseka and asked whether he is aware about the above instructions given by Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksha. He said that he is not aware about such instructions.
If any international commission or any war crime court requests from me to give any evidence regarding this telephone conversation between Mr.Gotabhaya Rajapaksha and Brigdier Shavendra Silva on 17 th May 2009 I am prepared to give a statement or an affidavit to them.