On August 19, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva was appointed as the 23rd Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).
For a section of the Sinhala press, Silva was a “war hero” who “along with his troops fought to protect the territorial integrity of the country” by “leading the war in Vellamullivaikkal, Puthukudiyiruppu during the final stages of the war.”[1]
In some sections of the Tamil press, Silva was “accused of [committing] war crimes” for carrying out “acts of genocide against the Tamils.”[2]
A minor discussion in the Sinhala press – Lanka and Anidda mirrored the views in the Tamil press.
[1] Lankadeepa, August 25, p. 06.
[2] Thinakkural, Arasiyal Kalari, August 25, p. 29; Virakesari, Samakaala Arasiyal, Aug 25, p.1.; Thinakkural, Arasiyal Kalari, August 25, p. 29.
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