US Ambassador to Sri Lanka has responded to allegations made by MP Wimal Weerawansa accusing the US of being part of a conspiracy related to a regime change during the ‘Aragalaya’ anti-government protests in 2022.
Taking to Twitter, Ambassador Julie Chung said that she was disappointed that an MP has made baseless allegations and spread outright lies in a book that should be labelled “fiction.”
“For 75 years, the US & SL have shared commitments to democracy, sovereignty, and prosperity – a partnership and future we continue to build together,” she added.
Her comments come after MP Weerawansa revealed during the launch of his book “Nine; The Hidden Story” that a plan was hatched to assassinate former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other high-ranking officials of the armed forces in order to pacify the United States of America (USA).
MP Weerawansa further stated that even former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was seen adhering to certain instructions of the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung at the time.Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense has also issued a statement responding to the allegations raised by MP Wimal Weerawansa against former Army Commander Shavendra Silva.
MP Wimal Weerawansa slammed former Army Commander Shavendra Silva alleging that he also supported the conspiracy to create an interim administration in Sri Lanka using the ‘Aragalaya’ anti-government protests in 2022.
Speaking during an event marking the launch of his book, MP Wimal Weerawansa stated that the plan for an interim administration was hatched with the involvement of Shavendra Silva who suspiciously left for India a day before the May 09th unrest.Responding to the allegations, the Defense Ministry clarified that 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 07 July 2022.
Issuing a statement, the Ministry of Defence emphasizes that under the directions and approval of the then President of Sri Lanka and the Defence Ministry, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and former Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva participated in the Meeting representing the Government of Sri Lanka.
“Appearing on the ‘Paththare Visthare’ programme of Hiru TV, today (26), Journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama quoting from the speech made by MP Wimal Weerawansa at the launching ceremony of his book “Nine; The Hidden Story,” said that the MP 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 General Shavendra Silva’s visit to India, aroused suspicion,” the Ministry pointed out that.
The Ministry of Defense further emphasizes that the above statement is baseless and the Chief of Defence Staff and former Commander of the Army General Shavendra 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 of Sri Lanka and Ministry of Defense.