Sri Lanka Army Commander takes-over foreign affairs

Daya Gamage, Asian Tribune

Sri Lanka Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake image from article

Excerpt:

When Sri Lanka’s Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake declared in Colombo, the Capital City of Sri Lanka where the legitimate government sits, that he has already set up a “Directorate of Overseas Operations” to defend itself against war crimes charges made in the international arena he seems to have penetrated into a portfolio confined to the Government indicating that the administration, under which he serves, has totally failed all these years to use public diplomacy [JB emphasis] and strategic communication techniques with international players to erase the tarnished image of the nation and help build it, and therefore he is taking over the task. ...

It is common knowledge that the Government of Sri Lanka, which was knowledgeable of the image issue and the war crime allegations, extensively has all the relevant data and documents in its possession. The question arises is: Why was it necessary for the Army Commander to establish a directorate which is, according to Lt. Gen. Senanayake’s words, “dedicated to preparing material to defend itself against war crimes charges.” ...