The service extensions of the Commanders of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, and Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, are expected to end on 31st December 2024, according to state newspaper Dinamina. 

Quoting Defence Ministry sources, the newspaper reported that as the Minister of Defence, the President is to take a decision, either today or tomorrow, on whether they will be given further service extensions or whether new appointments will be made to the positions.

General Shavendra Silva was appointed the Chief of Defence Staff in 2020 while still serving as Army Commander. Born in 1964, he is currently above 60 years of age. 

He worked in the Army on a service extension granted by former President Maithripala Sirisena before becoming Army Commander.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage is also on a service extension and will be 57 years old on 31 December 2024.

The Sri Lanka Army held the traditional parade for its outgoing Army Commander, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage today.

Watch : https://shorturl.at/W5BDG 

Meanwhile, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera is also working on a service extension after being appointed to that position on 18 December 2022.

Also, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapakse is working on a service extension and will be 56 years old on 29 January next year.

According to the report, the appointment of a retired Army, Air Force or Navy commander to the position of Chief of Defence Staff has been the system in Sri Lanka so far. (Newswire)

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Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage has filed a case at the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court against an individual and two US firms for sharing defamatory videos against him on social media.

The case was filed at the court on Tuesday (May 07) by the Army Commander under the provisions of the Online Safety Act.

Thushara Saliya Ranawaka of Sri Lankan origin living overseas, and American multinational corporation Google and its online video-sharing platform YouTube have been named respondents. 

Filing his case, the Army Commander has requested the court to issue a notice to the respondents to appear before the court and to issue an order preventing the defamatory videos from being further circulated on social media. (Newswire)

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Defence Ministry Secretary, General (Retired) Kamal Gunaratne and Army Commander, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage have tendered an apology to Opposition Parliamentarian Chandima Weerakkody, it was reported.

According to The Morning, the apology had been made on the directive issued by the Parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Privileges, over the incident of the officials having allegedly threatened the MP within the Parliament premises.

In October last year, MP Weerakkody informed the Parliament that he had been threatened by Gunaratne and Liyanage during a session of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security chaired by Government MP, Rear Admiral (Retired), Dr. Sarath Weerasekera.

At the time, MP Weerakkody told the Parliament that the Defence Secretary and Army Commander gave threatening responses before the SOC on National Security concerning a statement he had made in the Parliament about the alleged misuse of vehicles by high-ranking officers of the Army.

Following a complaint by the MP, the Ethics and Privileges Committee had investigated the matter after which it had directed the duo in question to tender an apology to MP Chandima Weerakkody.

The committee also highlighted that Chairmen of Parliamentary committees should conduct the sessions impartially and take measures to protect the MPs’ privileges, while the attendees should be aware of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act. (NewsWire)

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Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage achieved the status of Military Para Trooper on Monday (Jan 22) through his profound expertise and knowledge in military parachuting. 

According to the Sri Lanka Army, the Commander’s journey to become a Military Paratrooper took place at the Commando Regiment Training School (CRTS) in Kudaoya.

On Monday, the Commander of the Army, with other participants including 18 military personnel from the Maldives National Defence Force and 14 members from the Sri Lanka Army, took to the skies aboard an MI-17 helicopter at the Uhana Air Force Base runway. The Commander executed parachute jumps over the Uhana Air Force Base drop zone, officially joining the esteemed family of airborne soldiers. 

This achievement is particularly a significant milestone in the annals of military history as it marks the first-ever attainment of the designation; Military Para Trooper by a distinguished individual holding the esteemed rank of Lieutenant General, who is concurrently serving as the Commander of the Army. Further, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage has attained remarkable distinction as the eldest highest-ranking military personnel to successfully qualify as a Military Para Trooper.

Major General A.C.A de Zoysa USP Hdmc Lsc, Provost Marshal, and Colonel Commandant, Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police also joined the Army Chief in this endeavour. (NewsWire)

Sri Lanka Army Commander soars to new heights as Military Para Trooper pic.twitter.com/0l46ajLeiv

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) January 24, 2024

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