Archives
UNHCR delegation calls on Defence Secretary
A delegation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) led by Indrika Ratwatte (Director- Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific) met the Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne at the Defence Ministry today (22 Dec).
SLAF and Health Ministry sign MOU for Charter Aircraft Agreement
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Charter Aircraft Agreement was signed between the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and the Ministry of Health at the SLAF Headquarters, yesterday (21). The MOU was signed following the Defence Ministry’s approval.
China donates Rs. 5 million to the NCC
The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka donated Rs. 5 million to the Defence Ministry on Wednesday (21 Dec) towards the development of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
Army troops doused fire in Kandy
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops of the 111 Brigade of the 11 Division under command to the Security Force Headquarters - Central (SFHQ-C) doused fire erupted in a three-storied house along the Sri Sangaraja Mawatha in Kandy recently.
Condolence Message
The Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka conveys its condolences on the disaster of the sinking of HTMS Sukhothai due to bad weather. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of those still missing and to the Royal Thai Navy.
Newly appointed Navy Chief calls on Defence Secretary
The newly appointed Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera made a call on the Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne at the Defence Ministry, Defence Headquarters Complex in Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte today (19 Dec).
New HQ building of Commando Regiment declared open by Defence Secretary
A new Headquarters building of the Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment was inaugurated by Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne at the Commando Regiment Centre in Ganemulla today (19 Dec).
Navy nabs a large haul of Ice and Heroin
A special operation conducted by the Navy in coordination with the State Intelligence Service and Police Narcotic Bureau in the seas about 229 nautical miles (424km) off Dondra led to the interception of 02 local fishing trawlers and apprehension of a large consignment of narcotic drugs with 08 suspects on 14th December 2022. The haul of illegal drugs included over 128kg and 327g of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) and 106kg and 474g of heroin (with their packages). In the same vein, SLNS Samudura also held another local fishing trawler with 06 suspects arrived to replenish fuel to the drug-carrying trawler. The consignment of drugs and the suspects were brought to the Colombo Harbour by the Navy this morning (18th December). Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera also arrived at the Colombo Harbour to inspect the consignment.
SLN rescues 104 Myanmar nationals
Sri Lanka Navy rendered assistance to rescue 104 distressed Myanmar nationals aboard a passenger craft in Sri Lanka’s waters about 3.5 nautical miles north of Veththalakerni this morning (18th December 2022). The distressed craft is reported to have trespassed into island’s territorial waters last night (17th December), following a mechanical failure while it was carrying these people from Myanmar to Indonesia.
Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, new Navy Commander
Hon. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has promoted the Rear Admiral Priyantha Perera to the rank of Vice Admiral and appointed as the 25th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) today (18).
Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne promoted to the rank of Admiral
Hon. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces has elevated the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne to the rank of Admiral with effective from yesterday (17).
As an island nation, Sri Lanka should maintain good relations
with all countries - President
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka should adopt a non-aligned foreign policy in dealing with the international community, as an island nation.
KDU enters into an agreement with NWSDB
On the sidelines of the opening ceremony organized by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) of their new Centre of Excellence for Water and Sanitation (CEWAS) recently (14), General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) entered into an agreement with NWSDB to jointly conduct a certificate course on “Operation & Maintenance In Wastewater Treatment Plants”.
SLAF conducts a 'Fire and Rescue Drill' at SLAF Headquarters
SLAF conducts a 'Fire and Rescue Drill' at SLAF Headquarters
Defence Secretary graces launching of ‘Prabhakaran’s
Ruthless Terrorism in the Guise of a Liberation’
Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne graced the launching of the E Book ‘Prabhakaran’s Ruthless Terrorism in the Guise of a Liberation’ written by the eminent author JF Ranjith Perera at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management auditorium in Colombo last evening (15 Dec).
Sixty-four (64) Midshipmen embark on their naval careers as
commissioned officers in Trincomalee
The commissioning of Midshipmen of the 36th and 37th intakes of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and 62nd and 63rd intakes of Officer Cadets of Sri Lanka Navy was held at the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA), Trincomalee on 15th December 2022. At the invitation of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, the ceremony was graced by the Chief of Naval Staff of India, Admiral R Hari Kumar.
Navy nabs smuggled Kerala Cannabis
A large stock of over 181kilos of (wet weight) Kerala Cannabis was apprehended by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) during a special operation conducted in the sea area off Guru Nagar in Jaffna on Thursday (15 Dec).
Defence Secretary looks into the needs of ‘SERRIC’
Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne made an inspection visit to the Senehasa Education Resource Research and Information Centre (SERRIC) situated at Matha Road, Manning Town in Colombo, today (12).
Navy rescues fishermen from capsized trawler
Three local fishermen were rescued from a capsized fishing trawler in the southern seas after a search and rescue operation by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN).
How Black Marketeering Affects Economic Security
Sri Lanka is facing an unprecedented economic crisis since the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the views of economic experts, arbitrary tax cuts in 2019, imposing a ban on chemical fertiliser imports and the switch to organic fertiliser in November 2021, large money printing, the Easter Sunday bomb attacks in April 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have had a major impact for the prevailing crisis.
Hatred Does Not Cease By Hatred, But Only By Love
War is futile, war is destructive, and war creates misery. Sri Lanka underwent a three-decade war with one of the world's notorious terrorist organisations known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and won the battle against terrorism. In a country like Sri Lanka,
Fortifying National Security in a time of Crisis
The tragedy of attacking the non-violent protest at Galle Face Green by a mob opposing the protesters left a black mark in the records of Sri Lankan history.
Psychological traumas resulting in substance abuse in women
Drug and substance abuse are becoming an escalating trend in the 21st century resulting in a global health insecurity. According to the World Drug Report 2021 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the most used substances globally are denoted as nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, opioids, cocaine and amphetamines.
Energy Crisis Concerns
Today we face one of the worst economic crises since independence. Last January, Fitch Ratings downgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) from ‘CCC’ to ‘CC’.
Measures being taken to award President’s Colours to the NCC- Defence Secretary
While appreciating the performance of the school’s cadet platoons the Defence Secretary said that cadets should always maintain their stature and also be able to accept victory with grace and defeat in good spirit.