About the Ministry
The Subjects and Functions of the Ministry of Defence as published in the Gazette Notification
No. 2412/08 dated 25th November 2024 are as follows:
01.Purview
Ensuring the national security, first and foremost safeguarding the aspirations of the people of Sri Lanka as a unitary sovereign state.
02.Subjects and Functions
1. Formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, strategies, programmes, and projects, in relation to the subject of defence, disaster management and response, and those subjects that come under the purview of Departments, Statutory Institutions and Public Corporations listed in the Column of Departments, Statutory Institutions and Public Corporations.
2. Provision of relevant public services under the purview of the Ministry in an efficient and people friendly manner.
3. Reforming all systems and procedures using modern management techniques and technology, thus ensuring that the functions of the Ministry are fulfilled while eliminating corruption and waste.
4. Ensuring national security.
5. Maintenance of internal security.
6. Upgrading the prevailing integrated intelligence mechanism in trustworthy and efficient manner to ensure national and internal security.
7. Establishment and operationalization of the National Security Advisory Board.
8. Maintenance of relations with visiting Armed Forces.
9. Extension of cooperation to international humanitarian operations.
10. Performing responsibilities related to explosives, firearms, offensive weapons and chemical weapons (Academy of Financial Studies) as a Faculty of Kotelawala Defence University.
11. Performing responsibilities related to maintenance of light houses (other than those belonging to the Ports Authority).
12. Provision of defence education and post-service education for defence service personnel.
13. Provision of higher education for defence service personnel.
14. Matters relating to private security services.
15. Enhancing excellence in the defence sector by integrating knowledge of national security with science, technology, and innovation.
16. Technical updating of the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Coastal Guard and the enactment of relevant laws to ensure security and stability of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Sri Lanka.
17. Rescue operations and administration of Coast Guard Service.
18. Matters relating to Extradition.
19. Matters relating to veteran and disabled soldiers.
20. Provision of weather and climate related services.
21. Conducting meteorological surveys and research.
22. Landslide disaster management and related research and development.
23. Forecasting natural disasters and sensitizing relevant sectors and institutions.
24. Coordination of awareness programmes on natural and man-made disasters.
25. Conducting rescue operations during natural and man-made disasters.
26. Promotion of disaster resilient construction and provision of technical guidance.
27. Encouraging research and development in relation to appropriate technology for housing and construction sector.
28. Regulating telecommunication affairs to promote sustainable development of telecommunication industry by ensuring public interest in the increasingly competitive market.
29. Ensuring national and international maritime safely within the Sri Lanka Exclusive Economic Zone by assuring availability of maritime hydro- spatial data.
30. All other subjects that come under the purview of Institutions listed under 03 below.
31. Supervision of all the Institutions listed under 03 below.
03.Related Institutional and Legal Framework
|
1. Office of the Chief of Defence Staff 2. Sri Lanka Army 3. Sri Lanka Navy 4. Sri Lanka Air Force 5. State Intelligence Service 6. Civil Security Department 7. National Cadet Corps 8. National Authority for the Implementation of Chemical Weapons Convention 9. Sir John Kotelawala Defence University 10. Defence Services Command and Staff College 11. Defence Services College 12. Defence Research and Development Centre 13. Institute of National Security Studies 14. National Defence College 15. Rakna Arakshana Lanka Ltd. 16. Coast Guard Department of Sri Lanka 17. National Defence Fund 18. Ranaviru Seva Authority 19. Api Wenuwen Api Fund 20. Department of Meteorology 21. National Disaster Management Council 22. Disaster Management Centre 23. National Disaster Relief Services Centre 24. National Building Research Organization |
• Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009 • Army Act No. 17 of 1949 • Navy Act No. 34 of 1950 • Air Force Act No. 41 of 1949 • Extradition Law No. 8 of 1977 • Explosives Act No. 21 of 1956 • Firearms Ordinance No. 33 of 1916 • Firing Ranges and Military Training Act No. 24 of 1951 • Mobilization and Supplementary Forces Act No. 40 of 1985 • Offensive Weapons Act, No. 18 of 1966 • Piracy Act No. 9 of 2001 • Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 48 of 1979 • Public Security Ordinance No. 25 of 1947 • Chemical Weapons Convention Act No. 58 of 2007 • Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy Act No. 68 of 1981 • Defence Services Command and Staff College Act No. 5 of 2008 • Suppression of Terrorist Bombings Act No. 11 of 1999 • Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation Act No. 42 of 2000 • Private Security Agencies Act No. 45 of 1998 • Department of Coast Guard Act No. 41 of 2009 • Ranaviru Seva Authority Act No. 54 of 1999 • Api Wenuwen Api Fund Act No. 6 of 2008 • National Hydrographic Act No. 7 of 2024 • Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No. 13 of 2005 • Prohibition of anti-personnel mines Act No. 3 of 2022 • All other legislations pertaining to the subjects specified under the paragraph 02 above and not specifically brought under the purview of any other Minister |