Sri Lanka’s prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed that countries were "angry with our armed forces,” as he addressed new troops at a passing out parade in the south last month.
The prime minister, who stands accused of overseeing war crimes during his previous term as president of Sri Lanka, went on to state that the Sri Lankan military should be “proud” of its record.
Tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed by a 2009 offensive launched by Rajapaksa, that saw hospitals shelled, widespread sexual violence and extrajudicial killings.
“Sovereignty as well as very existence of our nation was protected and nurtured by our armed forces in the face of several threats for division of the country,” Rajapaksa told newly passed out troops.
“Our troops showing their professionalism have worked in an exemplary manner, although some countries are angry with our armed forces at political level but corresponding foreign armed forces admit that what our troops did was great.”
"You are today joining a proud Army which has shocked the world by eradicating the world’s most brutal terrorist organization,” he added.
Rajapaksa was speaking alongside the head of Sri Lanka’s army, Shavendra SIlva, who in 2009 led a military unit that was accused of committing many of those crimes.