Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, who retired on 31 December 2024, addressed allegations made against him in his farewell statement. These allegations, particularly those by politicians like Wimal Weerawansa, accused General Silva of showing bias towards foreign powers, including the United States, during the Aragalaya people’s movement in 2022.
Reflecting on his 40 years of military service, General Silva drew attention to the events of 2022, emphasising that he had no intention of becoming a ruthless mass murderer targeting unarmed civilians. He also highlighted how the government’s misinterpretation of his tactical strategies during the unrest worked against him.
“The public upheaval in 2022 was a complex situation,” General Silva stated. “It was a pivotal moment in my military career, where I learned to distinguish between true friends and real adversaries. A state army is an authorised armed force that exists to safeguard the people in times of internal or external threats to the state.”
Discussing his actions during the unrest, he said:
“The events of 2022 involved internal public unrest. I instructed the army to use only minimal force to control the protesters. My aim was to prevent the death of any innocent civilian by an army bullet. I had no desire to become a mass murderer of unarmed citizens. As a result, the country avoided descending into chaos. One only needs to look at the consequences of military crackdowns on protests in neighbouring states to understand what could have happened here.”
General Silva dismissed accusations of betrayal and criticised the power-hungry rulers of the time. He stated, “I had no sinister motives to betray the state, as some have claimed. Nor did I have any base aspirations to serve as a pawn for foreign powers or a sycophant in foreign embassies.”
Elaborating on his role during the crisis, General Silva explained, “At that time, the Prime Minister, who was also the fifth executive president, faced threats to his life. I used transitional forces to ensure his safety. I also prioritised securing the homes of politicians by dispersing most of the agitators who sought to burn them down. Yet, my tactical decisions during this struggle were misinterpreted, which worked against me.”
General Silva also reflected on his military career, noting that he was a four-star general and the second Commander-in-Chief in the history of the Sri Lanka Army. He retired on 31 May 2022, seven months before the end of his tenure. Shortly thereafter, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country. General Silva, meanwhile, attended a national security conference abroad with state permission, demonstrating his continued commitment to duty and integrity.
Weerawansa, in his 2023 book Nine: The Hidden Story and in statements made on private television, alleged that General Silva had shown bias towards the US. He claimed this was due to General Silva’s daughter residing in the US at the time, suggesting that fear of US sanctions influenced his decisions. Weerawansa further accused the general of complicity in a conspiracy to overthrow the government.
In response, General Silva issued a Letter of Demand to Weerawansa, asserting that these allegations were false and baseless. He maintained that the statements made by the MP about him and the Sri Lanka Army were fabricated and malicious.
“It is evident that these claims were published with mala fide intent and an ulterior motive to defame me and tarnish my hard-earned reputation, both locally and internationally,” General Silva said. He emphasised that his nearly 40 years of unblemished service to the nation stand as a testament to his integrity and commitment.
