He joined the Sri Lanka Army on 5 March 1984 through its 19th Officer Cadet Intake (long course) at the Sri Lanka Military Academy in Diyatalawa. On completion of his basic officer training, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Gajaba Regiment on 16 November 1985 as one of the first officers to be commissioned directly into the newly formed infantry regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Vijaya Wimalaratne. Attached to the 1st Battalion, Gajaba Regiment (1st Gajaba), he was made platoon commander in the Special Service Group that later developed into the Rapid Deployment Force a precursor to the Special Forces Regiment. He later transferred to the Commando Regiment following commando training. In 1987, he took part in the Operation Liberation in Vadamarachi as the adjutant of the 1st Gajaba under the command of MajorGotabaya Rajapaksa. He was wounded in the operation and later served as the head of the Presidential Security Army Unit at the President's House, Colombo. In 1989, Captain Silva served as a company commander in the 1st Gajaba under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Gotabaya Rajapaksa when it was deployed to the Matale District at the height of the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection undertaking counter insurgency operations in the district.[10] He was thereafter an officer instructor at the Sri Lanka Military Academy and served as the course officer of regular intake 37, which included the first batch of foreign officer cadets in 1991.[11]
Field command and staff appointments
Major Silva was appointed commanding officer of the 8th battalion, Gajaba Regiment in August 1995 and served till January 1996. He was the youngest commanding officer to command an infantrybattalion, during the Operation Riviresa. In July 1996, he was appointed commanding officer of the 5th (Volunteer) battalion, Gajaba Regiment and served till September 1996, when he was appointed commanding officer of the 1st battalion, Gajaba Regiment and served till September 1998 having been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.[12][13][14]
Having graduated from Defence Services Command and Staff College gaining his psc qualification, he had served as a staff officer in the Military Secretary's Branch at Army Headquarters and as a general staff officer-1 (G1) (Plans) in the Directorate of Plans; G1 (Training) Directorate of Training and G1 (Operations) at the Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna. During 2002–2004 peace talks he took part in negotiations to open the A-9 Main Supply Route (MSR). In 2005, he was transferred to the Sri Lanka Military Academy as the commanding officer of the officer cadet wing.[11]
Eelam War IV
With the resumption of hostilities he became the Brigade Commander of the Air Mobile Brigade, in August 2006 he was instrumental in the capture of the forward defense lines in Muhamalai. Thereafter, he took command of the 58 Division, playing a key role 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 stretch of LTTE 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 at Army Headquarters and promoted to the rank of Major General, the youngest officer to reach that rank. He then served as the General Officer Commanding, 53 Division which served as the country's Reserve Strike Force.[11]
In January 2020, General Silva was appointed as Acting Chief of Defence Staff, while concurrently serving as Army Commander. He succeeded Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne[21] He was promoted to the rank of General in December 2020.[22] With his term as Army Commander ending on 31 May 2022, General Silva was confirmed as Chief of Defence Staff with effect from 1 June 2022.[20]
Allegations of human rights violations and US sanctions
National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID 19 Outbreak
With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to head the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) a Presidential Task Force tasked with containing the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka.[33]
Awards and decorations
General Shavendra Silva is the most decorated military personal in Sri Lankan army history with over 20 medal to his name. He has received some of the highest awards in the Sri Lankan armed forces, which includes the Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya, Rana Wickrama Padakkama, Uttama Seva Padakkama and the Rana Sura Padakkama at once, a first in the Sri Lankan military history.[11]
In recognition of the services rendered to the Nation and the devotion to preserve the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the motherland, he has been awarded with the ‘Sri Lankeshwara Aparadha Meheyum Visharadha Jothikadhaja Veeraprathapa Deshamanya Jathika Gourawanama Sammana Upadhi Sannas Pathraya’, the ‘Weera Gajendra Sangramashuri Jathika Gourawanama Sannas Pathraya’ and the ‘Weera Wickrama Deshabhimani Vishwa Keerthi Sri Ranashura’ which is the most prestigious awards that a lay-person could receive by the tri-sects of the Sri Lankan Buddhist order for true. Also, in 2019 he was honoured with the 'Vishwakeerthi Sri Mahathala Weera Puthra' honorary title. At the pinnacle General Shavendra Silva was awarded many honorary titles from the venerated Buddhist Tri-Nikaya, and in pinnacle he has been awarded with Buddhist Honorary Title ‘Mahamannya Prathapadhikeshwara’; the highest Buddhist accolade that is bestowed to any lay personality by the Asgiriya and Malwatta Chapters of Siyam Nikaya in the year 2022. [34]
Contribution to the Sports Development
General Shavendra has been contributing to the advancement of the Sri Lankan Sports Sector as the Chairman of the National Sports Selection Committee (NSSC) appointed by the Ministry of Sports from the year 2018. He has been instrumental in uplifting the Sri Lankan Sports to perform well in Olympic Games and Paralympic Games during his service. Under his initiative, he has integrated the sports facilities of the Sri Lanka Army with the national sports to produce better results in the Field. In addition, he is the present Chairman of the Defence Services Hockey Committee & Army Hockey Committee. [35]
Personal life
General Silva is married to Sujeewa Nelson, daughter of H. G. P. Nelson, former Cabinet Minister of the United National Party.[36]