The Ministry of Defence has termed as ‘baseless’ a reference made by NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa to chief of defence staff General Shavendra Silva.
It issued a statement in response to the remark by MP Wimal Weerawansa regarding the Gen. Shavendra Silva, who was in India during the July 09 ‘Aragalaya.’
It said the 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 July 07, 2022.
The ministry emphasized that under the directions and approval of the then president and the Defence Ministry, Gen. Shavendra Silva participated in the meeting representing the government of Sri Lanka.
Appearing on the ‘Paththare Visthare’ programme of Hiru TV, yesterday (26), journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama quoting from the speech made by MP Weerawansa at the launch of his book ‘Nine; The Hidden Story’ had alleged that the first plan by those behind the protests on May 09, 2022 was to assassinate the then executive president and the defence heads inside the President’s House and that Gen. Silva’s visit to India aroused suspicion.
The ministry further emphasizes that the above statement is baseless and Gen. 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 the Ministry of Defence.
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