TAKING OVER DUTIES AND GUARD OF HONOUR FOR THE NEWLY APPOINTED COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT MAJ GEN SHAVENDRA SILVA WWV RWP RSP USP ndc psc
The Adjutant General of Sri Lanka Army Maj Gen Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP USP ndc psc assumed duties as the 11th Col of the Regiment of the Gajaba Regiment on 27 April 2017.
Maj Gen Shavendra Silva is a proude product of the St Thomas Collage Matale. His performance as student is remarkable during the school time and holds the followings, collage cricket captain, band leader, cadet Sergeant Major and the collage head prefect.
He joined the Sri Lanka Military Academy on 05th March 1984 and with Intake 19 and was trained at Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa and was commissioned on 11th November 1985 and posted to 1st Battalion the Gajaba Regiment where he become the first Gajaba Officer in the history of Gajaba Regiment as the officers who were serving before joined the Gajaba Regiment from then Rajarata Riffle and the Vijayabahu Regiment
Maj Gen Shavendra Silva has hold appointments varying from Platoon Commander, Intelligence Officer, Adjutant, Company Commander in the 1st Battalion of the Gajaba Regiment and 2nd in Command, Commanding Officer of 8th , 5th (V) and 1st Battalions the Gajaba Regiment.
Maj Gen Shavendra Silva was also an officer instructor of the cadet officer intake 37 of Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa and later he was the Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Military Academy. He has held the appointments, as Grade 11 and Grade 1 at MS branch, Directorate of Training, Directorate of Plan.
Maj Gen Shavendra Silva was posted as the Commander Air Mobile Bde at Muhumalei at a very crucial era of the Elam war in 2006. There after he was appointed as General Officer Commanding 58 Division. He commenced the humanitarian operation in Mannar and led the most popular 58 Division liberating Manner, Rice Bowl, Vidataltivu, Pooneryn, Paranthan, Kilinochchi, Elephant Pass, Dharmapuram, Puthukkudiyiruppu, Vellamullivaikkal and finally able to eradicate three decades of Conflict against ruthless LTTE at the Kareimullivaikkal
His 58 Division was popularly known as most popular Division which gain most success in the Humanitarian Operation. Apart from 58 Division he commanded Commando Brigade too. After humanitarian operation he was promoted to Maj General and became youngest Major General in the Sri Lankan Army and posted as Director General Operation. In Year 2010 Maj Gen Shavendra Silva posted to Sri Lankan mission in New York what he served for nearly 4 years as Sri Lankan Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka at United Nations.
Maj Gen Shavendra Silva is the only Sri Lankan military officer to promoted as Ambassador while on service. During his tenure in UN he was also appointed as senior advisor Secretary General of United Nation Mr Banki Moon on peace keeping matters.
Maj Gen Shavendra Silva is graduate from Howard University at USA, graduated from National Defence University in India, graduated from Defence Service Command and Staff Collage ( formerly the Sri Lanka Army Command and Staff Collage ), he is also the recipient of a Diploma in Personal Management and was awarded an honorary life-long membership at the Institute of Personal Management ( IPM ) in Sri Lanka for his tremendous display of personnel management in the field and qualified physical training instructor and an instructor in weaponry in the Army. He is also an instructor in international humanitarian Law and was trained and qualified in the United States in psychological operations ( PSYOPS ).
Maj Gen Shavendra Silva is also the author of a proclaimed book entitled “Sri Lankan Identity since 2600 yearsâ€, which was written to mark the 2600th Anniversary of the Buddha’s Enlightenment ( Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi ).
In appreciation for all his service to the nation, he also the recipie of the \"Sri Lankeshwara Aparadha Meheyum Visharadha Jothikadhaja Veerapratapa Deshamanya Jathika Gourawanama Sammana Upadhi Sannas Pathraya\", and the \"Gajendra Sangramasuri Jathika Gourawanama Sannas Pathraya\" ( the most prestigious awards that lay-person can receive) by the tri-sects of the Sri Lankan Buddhist order for his true devotion to preserve the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the motherland. He was also named the \"Medarata Abhimanaya\" ( Pride of the Upcountry ) by eminent personalities in the Central hill – country of Sri Lanka.
His exceptional unique performances during operations to save the country have been well- recognized as a battlefield Commander and due to the recognition of valor and bravery that he displayed; he was awarded with Weera Wicrama Vibushanaya (WWV) Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP) and Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP). He was the first Officer, who received all the gallantry medals in the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He has been re-warded these honors numerous times due to the exceptional performances during the battlefield.
