copenlu/druid huggingface dataset:
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2020-02-14): The United States has blacklisted Sri Lanka's Army Chief, Shavendra Silva, for human rights violations including extrajudicial killings during the last phase of the country's civil war in 2009, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on February 14. "The allegations of gross human rights violations against Shavendra Silva, documented by the United Nations and other organisations, are serious and credible," Mr. Pompeo said in a statement . The sanctions imposed on February 14 by Washington bar Lt. gen. Silva and his family members from entering the United States.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2021-01-27): UN rights chief seeks sanctions against Sri Lankan generals: AFP [...] Bachelet expressed concern at General Shavendra Silva’s elevation as army chief and General Kamal Gunaratne’s appointment as defence secretary. [...] Silva, who was a field commander at the height of the separatist war, already faces a US travel ban.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2019-08-22): The appointment of Sri Lankan Lieutenant-General Shavendra Silva as Commander of the country’s army is deeply troubling, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement released on Monday, adding that the military leader had been given the role despite "serious allegations of gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law against him and his troops during the war". Lieutenant-General Silva commanded Sri Lanka’s 58th Division during the final stages of the military campaign against the LTTE rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009, commonly known as the Tamil Tigers, and UN investigations have implicated the division in alleged serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that "the promotion of Lieutenant-General General Silva severely compromises Sri Lanka’s commitment to promote justice and accountability in the context of Human Rights Council resolution 30/1", which promotes reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2023-12-14): A special clarification has been provided regarding a circulating photograph showing Chief of Defense Staff General Shavendra Silva and his wife boarding a special jet. The Indian Air Force reportedly offered special facilities for General Silva’s official visit from Delhi to Dehradun to attend the Dispersal Parade of the Indian Military Academy (IMA). It is reported that after his arrival in Delhi, General Silva was scheduled to fly to Dehradun in a special jet. The Indian Air Force provided this jet to General Silva as per standard protocol for dignitaries, considering his role as the chief guest for the event at the Indian Military Academy. The visit took place last Saturday (09).
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2022-10-26): In February, the United States imposed individual sanctions against Sri Lankan military chief Shavendra Silva, who is presently both the Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Sri Lanka Army. The move essentially means that Silva and his family cannot enter the United States "due to gross violations of human rights". [...] The allegations of gross human rights violations against Shavendra Silva, documented by the United Nations and other organizations, are serious and credible. His designation underscores the importance we place on human rights in Sri Lanka and globally, our concern over impunity for human rights violations and abuses, as well as our support for promoting accountability for those who engage in such acts. We urge the Sri Lankan government to promote human rights, hold accountable individuals responsible for war crimes and human rights violations, advance security sector reform, and uphold its other commitments to pursue justice and reconciliation. [...] The singling out of Silva for sanctions probably isn’t really about human rights or war crimes concerns in Sri Lanka. Rather, it looks like Washington is trying to put pressure on Colombo for geopolitical reasons.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2020-04-29): The U.S. State Department’s announcement of a travel ban on Sri Lankan Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, current commander of the Sri Lankan Army and acting chief of the Defense Staff, along with his immediate family, may hold implications for other Sri Lankan leaders who were directly involved in war crimes allegedly ordered by Silva. That includes the country’s current president, Gotabaya "Gota" Rajapaska, who was a U.S. citizen at the time the alleged war crimes took place during the country’s civil war that ended in 2009. [...] Despite these continuing allegations and Sri Lanka’s 2015 pledges to the U.N. to pursue accountability for the commission of international crimes and human rights abuses, scant progress toward any form of meaningful accountability has been made. To the contrary, according to Van Schaack, "the government of Sri Lanka has responded to [Silva’s] depredations with promotions rather than prosecutions." [...] The State Department designation was somewhat unusual, given the lack of earlier signaling that such a decision was pending. That might mean there is more to come. The designation may have implications for politics and post-conflict justice in Sri Lanka, as Silva’s actions likely also incriminate recently elected Sri Lankan President Gota Rajapaksa in various international crimes.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2019-08-01): The appointment of Sri Lankan Lieutenant-General Shavendra Silva as Commander of the country’s army is deeply troubling, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement released on Monday, adding that the military leader had been given the role despite "serious allegations of gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law against him and his troops during the war".
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2012-01-27): UN role for Sri Lanka ex-army General Shavendra Silva - Published [...] Major General Shavendra Silva, Sri Lanka's deputy ambassador to the UN, is the subject of a lawsuit in the US accusing him of war crimes. Maj Gen Silva denies the charges. He is one of many military men given top diplomatic posts by Sri Lanka.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2019-08-19): Shavendra Silva has denied allegations, but rights groups see his appointment as undermining reconciliation efforts. [...] "I am deeply troubled by the appointment of Lieutenant-General Shavendra Silva as Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, despite the serious allegations of gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law against him and his troops during the war," the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Michelle Bachelet said in a statement on Monday. [...] https://t.co/gX7zkH1PWR Our Press Release responding to #srilanka President’s decision to appoint alleged war criminal Shavendra Silva as #lka Army Chief. Full 137-page dossier at https://t.co/eEeWLxcLWO pic.twitter.com/fwK79nyE3d — ITJP (@itjpsl) August 19, 2019
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2023-12-14): Against this backdrop, viral social media posts allege that Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva is utilising private jets at the expense of public funds in Sri Lanka. Our investigation aims to shed light on the veracity of these claims and provide a clearer understanding of the situation. [...] As per the sources close to the defence ministry of Sri Lanka the photo depicts General Shavendra Silva and his wife in a special jet provided by the Indian Air Force. The sources clarified that the Sri Lankan government did not fund this trip. [...] While the social media posts correctly identified General Shavendra Silva's travel on a special jet, the claim of misuse of public funds for this trip is misleading. The travel was facilitated by the Indian Air Force for General Silva to attend the passing out ceremony of the Indian Military Academy as the chief guest.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2022-11-09): That this House is concerned by reports of increased militarisation and human rights violations in Sri Lanka, particularly during the country’s current economic crisis; calls upon the Government, as a key stakeholder of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to propose conditionalities on any IMF financial assistance for Sri Lanka during the current economic crisis, including that Sri Lanka carries out a Strategic Defence and Security Review to reduce its military spending and remove the military from engaging in commercial activities, that Sri Lanka meets the criteria required for Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus, and that Sri Lanka re-engages with the United Nations Human Rights Council process and fully implements resolution 30/1; and calls upon the Government to implement targeted sanctions against individuals who are credibly accused of committing war crimes during the Sri Lankan Civil War. [...] It is worth repeating that Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst economic crisis in a lifetime, with food inflation running at over 90% and a large majority of people receiving reduced incomes. There is significant hunger, with 8.7 million people inadequately fed, including millions of children. Access to healthcare is severely limited, with even basic drugs in desperately short supply. [...] To conclude, the people of Sri Lanka are experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis and they continue to face violations of human rights and barriers to justice. In response to the economic situation, the UK Government have provided direct humanitarian assistance and financial support through multilateral institutions, and we continue to pursue options for debt relief through all of this; ensuring that the poorest and most vulnerable continue to receive support at this time is critical.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2022-04-01): Rajapaksa resign, as the country suﬀers its worst economic crisis within memory. Tens of thousands of people gathered outside of the President’s oﬃce in Colombo, led by supporters of the Opposition party of the United [...] Depleted foreign reserves are driving Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis in decades. A currency crunch has hindered imports of fuel and other essentials from overseas, including milk powder, cooking gas, and gasoline. [...] Sri Lanka’s already dire economic crisis has deepened as oil prices hover near $110 a barrel. Vehicles are stranded with empty tanks, power cuts are depriving students of study time for exams, and shopping mall air conditioners are being switched oﬀ to conserve energy.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2024-10-08): ECONOMYNEXT – Hareendra Dissabandara has been appointed chairman of Sri Lanka’s Securities and Exchange Commission, by President Anura Dissanayake, official sources said. [...] He was also the Deputy Secretary General of Financial Affairs, National Economic Council of Sri Lanka, 2018-2019.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2021-05-05): Tickets will go on sale tomorrow, he announced in a tweet. [...] Several areas and villages were put under new restrictions on Wednesday in Colombo, Gampaha, Ratnapura, and Vavuniya districts, according to Sri Lanka’s Army Commander General Shavendra Silva, the head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19. [...] We want to know how you and your loved ones are affected in this crisis, what resources you are looking for or how you are trying to help. Leave your comments in the box below and we may feature some in our upcoming reporting.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2024-09-21): The 2022 protesters have articulated that past corruption led to the economic crisis and have demanded strong actions against those corrupt leaders and bureaucrats and to recover stolen assets owned by them both within and outside Sri Lanka. [...] A limited number of Western nations have already imposed targeted sanctions, including travel bans for some Sri Lankan political and military leaders, after finding credible information about human rights violations. The United States has imposed a travel ban on former Army Chief Shavendra Silva and his immediate family members, former Navy chief Wasantha Karannagoda, and some others citing human rights violations. Canada last year announced financial sanctions to freeze the assets of former Sri Lankan presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa citing rights abuses. This list is expected to expand with Sri Lanka’s denial of addressing the past rights allegations. [...] The 2022 economic crisis has also renewed interest in Sri Lanka’s international partners on whether assets were bought from money siphoned off through corrupt deals. International analysts say Sri Lankans who are alleged to have misappropriated public funds and properties may also face questioning on the assets owned by them in other countries in future.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2022-07-13): Here's what life is like in Sri Lanka in the midst of its economic crisis [...] Economic crisis: Rajapaksa’s departure further enraged protesters, who want both leaders to vacate their roles as the country’s 22 million people struggle to buy basic goods, fuel and medicine. [...] Sri Lanka’s Air Force on Wednesday confirmed Rajapaksa’s departure, saying in a statement: "Pursuant to the request of the government and in accordance with the powers vested in a President in the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka air force provided a plane early today to fly the President, his wife and two security officials to the Maldives."
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2022-07-30): Sri Lanka's economic crisis was further accelerated by global impacts including the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic-induced global recession since 2020, and Russo-Ukrainian war-induced global food and energy shortage and price hike since early 2022, along with an unsuccessful move to prohibit the use of synthetic fertilizer and pesticides—which contributed to a major decline in the yields of Sri Lanka's rice and tea industries (which are a staple food and major international export respectively).[45][46][47] The drop in tea production as a result of the fertilizer ban alone resulted in economic losses of around $425 million. The ban also contributed to a 20% drop in rice production within the first six months. As a result, Sri Lanka went from being self-sufficient in rice production to having to import rice at a cost of US$450 million.[48] [...] - ↑ 58.0 58.1 "Sri Lanka economic crisis: The all-powerful Rajapaksas under fire". 1 April 2022. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/1/sri-lanka-economic-crisis-the-all-powerful-rajapaksas-under-fire. [...] - ↑ "Sri Lanka Economic Crisis News LIVE Updates: Troops, military vehicles deployed in streets; fears rise over army takeover" (in en). The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/sri-lanka-economic-crisis-live-may-11/liveblog/91480999.cms.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2022-07-18): Those are some predictive markers on the road that led Gotabaya, the Rajapaksas, the SLPP and the country to the debacle of today—redeemed partially, only by the Aragalaya, the uprising of the people.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2020-05-02): President Rajapaksa has appointed his special envoy, Basil Rajapaksa, to a second Task Force that will deal with economic matters. The members of this Task Force are Nandalal Weerasinghe, (Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka), Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, (Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army), C.D. Wickremeratne (acting Inspector General of Police), Major General (retd.) Shantha Dissanayake, Chairman, Consumer Affairs Authority, J.A. Nushad M. Perera (Chairman, Lanka Sathosa), Susantha Ratnayake (Chairman, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka), Jayantha de Silva, (Chairman, Information and Communication Technology Agency), Himali Fernando (Chairperson, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority), Jayampathy Molligoda (Chairman, Sri Lanka Tea Board), Prabath Subasinghe (Chairman, Export Development Board), A. Wimalaweera (Commissioner General of Labour), S. Singapuli (Commissioner of Co-operative Development), Rear Admiral (reetd) Ananda Peiris (Director General, Department of Civil Defence), Major General (retd.) Vijitha Ravipriya (Director General, Sri Lanka Customs), Bandula Thilakasiri (Director General, Department of Commodity Development), Sanjaya Mohottala (Director General, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka), Major General (retd.)
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2021-04-06): Expressing concerns over the Chinese "debt trap" in Sri Lanka and recognizing the growing Chinese influence on sovereign governance, Washington has now begun to advocate the urgency of signing the SOFA and MCC agreements with the pro-Beijing Rajapaksa administration.[65] Departing from a policy of a friendlier approach to the previous pro-American Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government (2015-19), the State Department has signaled an increasingly difficult road for the Colombo administration.[66] Washington has, for example, recently announced a travel ban on former General Shavendra Silva, who was accused of human rights violations against the separatist Tamil Tigers during the Eelam War that ended in May 2009.[67] In the past five years, Washington has kept a softer diplomatic approach to human rights and transitional justice for the minority Tamil people at the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC).
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2024-10-05): Sri Lanka's economic crisis was further accelerated by global impacts including the global recession caused by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and the food and energy shortage and price hike following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. An unsuccessful move to prohibit the use of synthetic fertilizer and pesticides also contributed to a major decline in the yields of Sri Lanka's rice and tea industries, which are, respectively, a staple food and major international export.[50][51][52] The drop in tea production from the fertilizer ban alone resulted in economic losses of around $425 million. The ban also contributed to a 20% drop in rice production within the first six months. As a result, Sri Lanka went from being self-sufficient in rice production to having to import rice at a cost of US$450 million.[53] [...] - ^ a b "Sri Lanka economic crisis: The all-powerful Rajapaksas under fire". Al Jazeera. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022. [...] - ^ "Sri Lanka Economic Crisis News LIVE Updates: Troops, military vehicles deployed in streets; fears rise over army takeover". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2023-11-28): Govt of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa continued efforts to reverse previous govt’s modest efforts to investigate past abuses and strengthen independence of police, judiciary and oversight commissions. In media interview PM Mahinda Rajapaksa 9 Feb reiterated plans to strengthen presidential powers by removing 19th amendment of constitution. FM Dinesh Gunawardena 26 Feb informed UN Human Rights Council govt was withdrawing its co-sponsorship of Oct 2015 council resolution on "Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka", stated resolution had not received cabinet or parliamentary approval and certain clauses contravened Sri Lankan constitution; promised govt would establish "an inclusive, domestically designed and executed reconciliation and accountability process". U.S. Sec State Pompeo 14 Feb announced travel ban on Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva and his immediate family for his alleged role in "gross violations of human rights" during final phases of civil war; Foreign Ministry 16 Feb rejected allegations during meeting with U.S. Ambassador. Police 4 Feb arrested former Sri Lankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena and his wife following new evidence of alleged bribes by Airbus to Sri Lankan Airlines officials under previous Rajapaksa govt; evidence emerged from British court proceedings following 4-year investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption.
Claim: General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !! (Social Media Users, 2023-12-14)
Evidence (2022-02-07): - Gen. Shavendra Silva, chief of defense staff. During the final months of the civil war in 2009, General Silva commanded the 58th Division of the Sri Lankan army. The 2015 OHCHR Investigation of Sri Lanka (OISL) report found evidence that soldiers from the 58th Division were responsible for shelling protected targets including civilians, hospitals and infrastructure used by the UN, extrajudicially executed prisoners, and torture.[144] In 2020, Silva was banned from travelling to the United States due to "credible information of his involvement, through command responsibility, in gross violations of human rights, namely extrajudicial killings, by the 58th Division of the Sri Lanka Army during the final phase of Sri Lanka’s Civil War in 2009."[145]