Sri Lanka’s wartime Army Commander and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka today reignited controversy over the long-debated “White Flag” incident, after releasing what he claims is new video evidence related to events in the final days of the country’s civil war in May 2009.
Addressing a press conference today (Feb 18), Fonseka alleged that the video shows former frontline commander Shavendra Silva speaking to fellow officers during the war, stating that he had received a telephone call from then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He further claimed that certain LTTE members were approaching the military carrying white flags to surrender, and that the Defence Secretary had ordered them to be killed.
Fonseka said the footage had been recorded at the time by a journalist who was present, and that he released the video today as previously promised. He described the material as significant evidence connected to long-standing allegations surrounding the deaths of several LTTE political figures, including Balasingham Nadesan and Seevaratnam Pulidevan, during the final phase of the conflict.
The “White Flag” incident remains one of the most disputed and sensitive issues related to the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war. Successive governments, military officials, and some involved parties have previously denied allegations of wrongdoing, while international human rights organizations have repeatedly called for independent investigations.
There has been no immediate official response from the parties named in Fonseka’s statement. Analysts say the renewed controversy could have significant political and legal implications in the coming days, as debate over accountability during the final phase of the war resurfaces once again.
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