Demise of Major General H G Silva (Rtd) VSV psc FBIM

Last rites of Major General H G Silva (Rtd) VSV psc FBIM was held with full Military Honours at General Cemetery, Borella on 08th November 2015.

Late Major General H G Silva (Rtd) VSV psc FBIM was a Senior officer who retired from Sri Lanka Army and Artillery on 26 January 1988 after a 35 year long illustrious Military Career.

He had born on 27 January 1933 in Ginthota, Galle as the eldest in a family of three and named Hikkaduwage Gratiaen Silva. He had received his education form St Thomas College, Mount Lavinia and Ananda College Colombo where he excelled in academics and sports. He had been excelled in Cricket, Boxing and Badminton and deeply admired by his colleagues and tutors for his outstanding bowling skills as a member of First Elven of Ananda College Cricket.

At the conclusion of School education, young Gratiaen Silva had joined the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 27 February 1953 and received his basic military training from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Upon his Commission on 03 February 1955, he had been posted to the prestigious 1st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment of Ceylon Artillery. Then onwards, he displayed his professionalism and utmost commitment in all command and administrative responsibilities entrusted upon him throughout his 35 year long career as an officer and a gentleman under the flag of Gunners. His proficiency and athleticism brought many a glory to the Regiment in his representation in Cricket and Badminton during early years in his career as a young officer.

During his long tour of duty, Major General H G Silva has held many appointments in different capacities. Some of the key appointments were:

GSO 11 (Training), Army Headquarters
GSO 11 (Military Intelligence), Army Headquarters
GSO 1 (Operations), Army Headquarters
Commandant Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa
Commanding Officer of 4th Field Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery
Commander, Task Force for Anti-illicit Immigration
Commander, Northern Command
Coordinating Authority - Rathnapura
Commander, Western Command
Col GS Army Headquarters
Commander, Central Command
Director, Budget and Finance Management, Army Headquarters
Director, Personnel Administration, Army Headquarters
Military Secretary, Army Headquarters

Major General H G Silva had followed number of local and overseas courses in different stages of his carrier and had excelled in them. Young Officers Course, Royal School of Artillery, Lark Hill, United Kingdom, Army Command and Staff College, Camberley, United Kingdom and Diploma in Management, British Institute of Management, United Kingdom are some of the important courses he had followed in overseas to become an outstanding gunner.

He was awarded with Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya for his unblemished and distinguished service rendered to the Army and to the Nation and following medals awarded to him stand testimony to his illustrious career and dedicated service to the Army.

Purna Bhumi Padakkama
Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal 1972
Sri Lanka Army 25th Anniversary Medal
Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal 1968
Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal 1979
President’s Inauguration Medal

Major General H G Silva was a source of encouragement and inspiration to the Officers and Other Ranks of the Army. He was always held in high esteem among his peers and colleagues for his absolute integrity and honesty. His name is written in the history of the Regiment of Artillery as the 7th Commanding Officer of the 4th Field Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery who tirelessly endeavoured to build the current adobe of 4th Regiment in Panagoda. Further, his visionary thinking as a commander and a principal staff officer, had contributed immensely to uplift the state of morale, education, health, welfare and overall wellbeing of the members of the Army. Among his many a contributions to establish Regulations and Orders for the steady function of the Army, his contribution to inaugurate regulations for awarding Rana Wickram Paddakkama, Rana Sura Paddakkama and Purna Bhumi Paddakkama as the Director Personal Administration is noteworthy which displays his unfathomable affection towards valiant soldiers in the field.

Major General H G Silva who had joined into a very young army at the time had instrumental in transforming rich custom and traditions of the Regiment among others. He had always been a true ambassador of Gunners by being a visionary leader and a commander everywhere he served with. The indelible leadership he has given to the Regiment of Artillery and to the Army as a senior Gunner will ever be remembered with utmost respect and affection.

Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery, all officers and men, both retired and serving, express their heartfelt sorrow and intense feeling on the sad demise of senior Gunner who was the epitome of an officer and a gentleman. We the Gunners stand beside the family members at this moment of grief.

“May he attend the supreme bliss of Nibbana”