Shavendra Silva
Encyclopedia
Major General
Shavendra Silva, WWV
, RWP
, RSP
, USP
, psc
, CR
is a Sri Lankan general and diplomat. The current Sri Lankan Deputy
Permanent Representative
to the United Nations
in New York
, he was the former Director of Operations, Sri Lanka Army and the General Officer Commanding
, 58 Division
during the Sri Lankan civil war
.
He was a highly decorated officer, being awarded the Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya
, Rana Wickrama Padakkama
and the Rana Sura Padakkama
at once, a first in the Sri Lankan military history. He was the youngest promoted as a commanding officer
. As an officer instructor at the Sri Lanka Military Academy
(SLMA) in Diyatalawa
, he trained the first foreign cadets to attend SLMA and went on to become its commanding officer.
During 2002-2004 peace talks he took part in negotiations to open the A-9 Main Supply Route (MSR). With the resumption of hostilities he become the Brigade Commander of the Air Mobile Brigade
and later took command of the famous 58 Division
and was instrumental in the military capturing several former LTTE strongholds including the Mannar rice Bowl,Vedithalathivu, Nachchikuda,Mulangavil, Devils Point, Pooneryn, Kilinochchi, Paranthan, Elephant Pass,Dharmapuram, Vishvamadu,Suvandipuram, Thevipuram Puthukudirippu,Puthumathalan, Wellamullu vaikkal and the last inch of enemy held Karayamulli vaikkal in the mangroves of Nanthikandal lagoon in the Mullaithivu district. After the end of the war he was appointed as Director of Operations of the Sri Lanka Army and promoted to the rank of Major General
.
In 2010, he took up position as Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations as the only serving army officer to hold such a post.As at present he holds the rank and title of Ambassador in addition to his post at the United Nations New York Headquarters.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Shavendra Silva, WWV
Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya
Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya Medal and Bar are the third highest Sri Lankan military decoration that is presented to officers and other ranks as a reward for individual acts of gallantry and conspicuous bravery which is of a military nature of a high order in the face of the enemy, carried out...
, RWP
Rana Wickrama Padakkama
The Rana Wickrama Padakkama medal and bar are presented to Sri Lankan military officers and other ranks as a reward for individual or allied acts of heroism in facing the enemy and performed of their own accord.-How medal awarded:It is ordained that the decoration shall be granted to all ranks of...
, RSP
Rana Sura Padakkama
The Rana Sura Padakkama is a medal presented to members of all ranks of the Military of Sri Lanka for individual and/or associated acts of heroism in facing the enemy and performed of their own accord. The decoration is presented by the President of Sri Lanka...
, USP
Uttama Seva Padakkama
The Uttama Seva Padakkama is presented to all ranks of the Regular Forces of the Sri Lankan military for valuable service and dedication to duty with the outstanding ability, merit and excellent conduct, given that they count not less than 15 years continuous and uninterrupted service and possess...
, psc
Psc
psc were the initials which appeared in the service lists denoting that a British Army officer had attended the Staff College, Camberley or, prior to 1956 and Pakistani independence, the Command and Staff College, Quetta...
, CR
Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment
The Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment is an elite special operations unit which is a Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. Within one of the four Army Commando Regiments there is a 140-man counter-terrorist unit that provides the primary Counter-terrorism response for Sri Lanka...
is a Sri Lankan general and diplomat. The current Sri Lankan Deputy
Deputy Chief of Mission
A Deputy Chief of Mission , is the number-two diplomat assigned to an embassy or other diplomatic mission. He or she is usually considered the second-in-command or top lieutenant to the Head of Mission...
Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he was the former Director of Operations, Sri Lanka Army and the General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
, 58 Division
58 Division (Sri Lanka)
The 58 Division is an infantry division of the Sri Lanka Army formed in 2008, prior to which it was known as Task Force 1 from 2007 to 2009. A principal offensive division, it is currently deployed for combat operations in the Wanni region...
during the Sri Lankan civil war
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
.
He was a highly decorated officer, being awarded the Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya
Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya
Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya Medal and Bar are the third highest Sri Lankan military decoration that is presented to officers and other ranks as a reward for individual acts of gallantry and conspicuous bravery which is of a military nature of a high order in the face of the enemy, carried out...
, Rana Wickrama Padakkama
Rana Wickrama Padakkama
The Rana Wickrama Padakkama medal and bar are presented to Sri Lankan military officers and other ranks as a reward for individual or allied acts of heroism in facing the enemy and performed of their own accord.-How medal awarded:It is ordained that the decoration shall be granted to all ranks of...
and the Rana Sura Padakkama
Rana Sura Padakkama
The Rana Sura Padakkama is a medal presented to members of all ranks of the Military of Sri Lanka for individual and/or associated acts of heroism in facing the enemy and performed of their own accord. The decoration is presented by the President of Sri Lanka...
at once, a first in the Sri Lankan military history. He was the youngest promoted as a commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
. As an officer instructor at the Sri Lanka Military Academy
Sri Lanka Military Academy
The Sri Lanka Military Academy , commonly known simply as Diyatalawa, is the Sri Lanka Army's officer initial training centre located in the garrison town of Diyatalawa in the central highlands of Sri Lanka....
(SLMA) in Diyatalawa
Diyatalawa
Diyatalawa is a garrison town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, in the Badulla District of Uva Province. It is at an altitude of and has become a popular destination for local holiday makers...
, he trained the first foreign cadets to attend SLMA and went on to become its commanding officer.
During 2002-2004 peace talks he took part in negotiations to open the A-9 Main Supply Route (MSR). With the resumption of hostilities he become the Brigade Commander of the Air Mobile Brigade
Air Mobile Brigade
An Air Mobile Brigade is a specialised form of military brigade dedicated to carrying out Air assaults. The units use helicopters to transport its personal and equipment to the combat theater.-List of Air Mobile Brigades:*British Army...
and later took command of the famous 58 Division
58 Division (Sri Lanka)
The 58 Division is an infantry division of the Sri Lanka Army formed in 2008, prior to which it was known as Task Force 1 from 2007 to 2009. A principal offensive division, it is currently deployed for combat operations in the Wanni region...
and was instrumental in the military capturing several former LTTE strongholds including the Mannar rice Bowl,Vedithalathivu, Nachchikuda,Mulangavil, Devils Point, Pooneryn, Kilinochchi, Paranthan, Elephant Pass,Dharmapuram, Vishvamadu,Suvandipuram, Thevipuram Puthukudirippu,Puthumathalan, Wellamullu vaikkal and the last inch of enemy held Karayamulli vaikkal in the mangroves of Nanthikandal lagoon in the Mullaithivu district. After the end of the war he was appointed as Director of Operations of the Sri Lanka Army and promoted to the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
.
In 2010, he took up position as Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations as the only serving army officer to hold such a post.As at present he holds the rank and title of Ambassador in addition to his post at the United Nations New York Headquarters.