Prasanna De Silva

Prasanna de Silva

Native name
ප්‍රසන්න ද සිල්වා
Born (1961-05-05) 5 May 1961
Allegiance Sri Lanka
Branch Sri Lanka Army
Service years1982 - 2016
Rank Major General
UnitSri Lanka Light Infantry
Sri Lanka Army Special Forces Regiment
CommandsGeneral Officer Commanding, 56 Division
Commander of Special Forces Brigade
ConflictsEelam War I, Eelam War II, Eelam War III, Eelam War IV, Sri Lankan Civil War
Awards
ChildrenYohani Diloka de Silva
Shavindri de Silva

Major General Prasanna de Silva, WWV, RWP, RSP is a retired Sri Lankan general officer, who served as the General Officer Commanding, 56 Division, Commander of Special Forces Brigade and Colonel of the Regiment of the Commando Regiment. He was later appointed defence attaché to the Sri Lankan High Commission in London (2010–2012). De Silva has been accused by multiple international human rights organizations of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War, including the deliberate targeting of civilians, attacks on hospitals and other designated “No Fire Zones”, and the use of internationally banned weapons. Diplomatic immunity prevented his prosecution while in the UK, and he returned to Sri Lanka amid calls for criminal investigation over these allegations.