Sri Lanka lodges protest to US over travel restrictions on Army chief

 Sri Lanka Sunday lodged a formal protest with the US Government over its decision to impose travel restrictions on Lt. Gen.Shavendra Silva, due to allegations of human rights violations.

Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena met with the US Ambassador in Colombo AlainaTeplitz and lodged the government’s protest.

On Friday the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that the Army Commander  was responsible for human rights violations and they were imposing the
restrictions on him and his immediate family.

The  Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday it conveyed its ‘strong objections’ on the imposition of travel restrictions and called for a review of the decision.

The statement said that he was appointed as the Commander of the Army by the then Head of State, taking into account his seniority and that there were no
substantiated or proven allegations of human rights violations
against him.