Sweden, Aug. 20 -- Army Chief of Staff Major General Shavendra Silva has been appointed as the new army commander by President Maithripala Sirisena, despite international condemnation.

Major General Shavendra Silva was appointed as the new Army Commander and received his letter of appointment from President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat this morning.

Secretary to HE the President Mr Udaya R Seneviratne, General (Retd) Shantha Kottegoda and a few officials were present during the occasion.

He is the 23rd Commander of the Sri Lanka Army.

He succeeds Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake who served as the Commander of the Army for more than 2 years.

In the meantime, tThe United States Embassy in Colombo has express...