Gen. Shavendra Silva to step down as Army Chief; remains as CDS

•  Vikum Liyanage to be appointed as new Army Chief  

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

General Shavendra Silva will assume office on June 1, 2022  as the new Chief of Defence Staff after relinquishing the office of the  Commander of the Army on May 31.  

General Shavendra Silva was serving as acting Chief of Defence Staff at the time he was appointed to this new office.   General Silva was appointed as the 23rd Commander of the Army on August 18 2019 by the then President Maithripala Sirisena.  

Meanwhile, the incumbent Chief of Staff Major General Vikum  Liyanage will be appointed as the new Commander of the Army with effect  from June 1 after relinquishment of his office as the Chief of Staff.  

Major General Liyanage was appointed as the 59th Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army on December 7, 2021.   Major General Vikum Liyanage of the Gajaba Regiment, prior  to this new appointment, served as the Commandant, Sri Lanka Army  Volunteer Force.    

• Major General Vikum Liyanage of the Gajaba Regiment, prior  to this new appointment, served as the Commandant, Sri Lanka Army  Volunteer Force