President has the right to decide on military appointments

Former MP Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said that he was happy and proud of President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to appoint Shavendra Silva as the Army Commander because he was an officer who had brought fame to Sri Lanka by defeating the Tamil Diaspora who publicized the ideology of the LTTE internationally and by liberating the country and the Sinhala and Tamil people from the ‘

Tiger’ terrorism.

He made these comments at a news briefing in Embilipitiya last Friday (23).

He added,“I thank the President for taking such an important decision regarding the security of the country without heeding comments of countries like America and Canada which expressed their displeasure at the appointment of him as Army Commander. The Prime Minister should make a direct statement regarding this and it should be discussed in Parliament as well.”

According to the monk, Shavendra Silva was an officer who effectively countered the false propaganda the LTTE sympathisers were making and showed the reality about Sri Lanka during his tenure as Sri Lanka’s representative at the United Nations in New York. The war heroes like Shavendra Silva had acted to protect the Tamil and Sinhala people .

He also said that the leaders of the country should counter the publicity given by the Tamil Diaspora and every Sri Lankan who appreciates peace will endorse the President’s responsibility and right of appointing the most suitable person as the Army Commander. It is an internal appointment and a decision taken for the security of the country. It has to be shown through the parliamentary debates that we do not act according to the whims and fancies of the international community.