Army Commander Lt. General Shavendra Silva has been promoted to the General rank.

Silva is the first serving Army Commander to be promoted to the General rank. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who was previously elevated to the same rank, was appointed the Chief of Defence Staff, almost simultaneously with the promotion.

Meanwhile, Defence Ministry Secretary Major General (retd) Kamal Gunaratne has also been promoted to the General rank by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Both were instrumental in the final military assault on the LTTE in 2009.