Major General Shavendra Silva appointed new Army Chief
Posted on August 19th, 2019
Courtesy Adaderana
Major General Shavendra Silva has been appointed as the 23rd Commander of the Sri Lanka Army today (19).
Accordingly, he has received his letter of appointment from President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat.
Joined the Sri Lanka Army as a Cadet Officer in 1984, Major General Silva held the position of Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Army prior to this appointment.
Secretary to the President Udaya R. Seneviratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Major Gen. Shantha Kottegoda were among the gathering.
August 19th, 2019 at 7:46 am
BLESSINGS OF THE NOBLE TRIPLE GEM, IN ALL YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVOURS. susantha.
August 19th, 2019 at 11:51 am
Congratulations and may the blessings of the Triple Gem be yours. We were looking for the day when you would be the Commander of the Armed Forces after seeing you directing your soldiers of the 58th Division to eliminate the cancer of terrorism. You deserve this recognition and we wish that you serve Sri Lanka for many more moons to come. බුදු සරණයි.
Sri Lanka is a sn Independent Sovereign State. We hve not sold our souls to America for the Ambassador of USA in Sri Lnak to issue a statement of displeasure of appointing Major Genral Shavendra Silva as the Commander of the Armed Forces. He is the most loved Army Officer and the people of Sri Lanka is honoured to have Major General Shavendra Silva as the Commander of the Armed Forces of our country.
It is only the Americans who are standing with the Tamils of the TNA the most ungrateful of the group of Tamils in Sri Lanka, and the UN High Commissioner of the Human Rights Council (the Cess pit according to Donald Trump) that have raised objections. We are little concerned about their objections
August 19th, 2019 at 1:10 pm
Congratulations Major General Shavendra Silva- cannot think of anyone who deserves and best qualified to hodl the position of Army Commander of our motherland. You proved to eb a true hero a true “Ranaviru” and the nation should rejoice over your appointment. Theruvan Saranai
August 19th, 2019 at 2:20 pm
Good move.
However, he too retires soon.
August 19th, 2019 at 4:10 pm
Looking at war time heroes, more we go down below SF, more the real heroism. It doesn’t mean other did not contribute much war tactics always have higher value in terms of contribution, heroism weighs more at foot level nevertheless.
MG Silva has shown his professionalism more than others who join political bandwagon later. A real gentlemen and he will protect mother land from pressures from higher levels as well as from the highest level in the world.
August 19th, 2019 at 5:01 pm
CONGRATULATIONS! Lt Gen Shavendra Silva.
The American government (through its embassy in Colombo) has already expressed its displeasure at this appointment, rationalizing its attitude by referring to the false war crimes allegations raised against the officer. I don’t think the current puppet regime they helped install in SL, even though it is in its last legs at this time, will issue any protest against this act of brazen interference in the country’s internal affairs. We ordinary Sri Lankans know who Shavendra is. Americans, Lt Gen Shavendra Silva is among our most distinguished war heroes. Please allow us to express our gratitude to them as a nation in peace.
August 19th, 2019 at 9:12 pm
Shavendra was in New York from 2010 to 2015 but USA did nothing to disrupt him. USA has only expressed concern following his appointment as Army Commander for a few months. Earlier this year he was appointed to lead the Commando Regiment. One great war hero. Hopefully he will not fall into political cesspits waiting to bait war heroes.
To his credit, Sirisena appointed senior war heroes to top positions just before their retirement so their services will be appreciated for the rest of their lives. He did so without considering political affiliations of them.
As Acting Defence Minister Sirisena’s restraint on May 15, 16 and 17, 2009 saved Lanka and himself plenty more trouble.
August 19th, 2019 at 10:22 pm
We needn’t worry, Dilrook. Only the all brawn but no brain SF out of the war heroes fell into a political cesspit, from which he won’t come out unless rescued by his original colleagues. The story of Sirisena the Saviour will be hard to sell.
August 19th, 2019 at 10:59 pm
No one falls into something one already is in.
The whole country is a political cesspit. People one considers as having ‘fallen into’ it do noting more than highlight that fact.
Reactions to Shavendra’s short term appointment are nothing more than automated reactions. When someone is pinched he emits a sound of pain. Shavendra’s appointment has only stressed the vulnerability of those who emit sounds of distress. In other words by this appointment Sri Lanka has hit others where it hurts.
Mario Perera, Kadawata
August 20th, 2019 at 1:05 am
“There are none so blind as those who will not see. The most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know.” – John Heywood 1546, probably inspired by the Bible where the idea occurs in several places, e.g., Jeremiah 5.21:
‘Hear this now, O foolish people,
Without understanding,
Who have eyes and see not,
And who have ears and hear not’.
August 20th, 2019 at 1:50 pm
Truth is very hard to sell in Sri Lanka. We fail to see the good in our political opponents and the bad of our political favorites.
No; there are others like SF on other camps. Same mold.
August 20th, 2019 at 2:12 pm
@Vaisrawana
Hope you can clarify this.
USA made a big hue and cry when Major General Shavendra Silva was made the Army Commander but not a whimper when Gotabaya was made the presidential election candidate. Why might be that?
The local US envoy even pandered into SLPP claims that the register of those revoked their US citizenship may be a little out of date. I’m puzzled.
August 20th, 2019 at 2:46 pm
@Dilrook
Thanks. I am also waiting for the reply. May open the eyes of ophthalmologist.