Shavendra Silva: A ‘war hero’ for the Sinhala press, an ‘accused war criminal’ for the Tamil press

On August 19, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva was appointed as the 23^rd 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.