News
World Ocean Day
A healthy Ocean for a healthy climate
PRESS RELEASE
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) which is functioning under the purview of the Ministry of Defence clarifies regarding the admission of civilian students to the MBBS Degree Programme of KDU.
Saudi Government offers Sri Lankan Muslim Tri Forces personnel free Haj opportunities for the first time in history
For the first time in history, the Saudi Government has offered Muslim members of the Sri Lankan Tri Forces sponsored opportunity to perform the annual Haj Pilgrimage this year (2024).
Defence Secretary attends as Chief Guest at the Round Table Discussion on
“Sri Lanka’s Economic Security in 2024: Evaluating the Outlook and Risks”
A closed-door Round Table Discussion (RTD) was conducted to evaluate the state of Sri Lanka’s economy one year after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. The event took place at the Nandimithra Auditorium, Ministry of Defence, in Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte, on Thursday (Jun 06), with Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne as the Chief Guest.
SL Navy successfully installs 1000 own-produced
RO water treatment plants
Reaching a milestone in one of its Naval Social Responsibility projects, the Sri Lanka Navy successfully installed its 1000th Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatment plant at Sri Sumana Vidyalaya in Palukadawala in Galgamuwa yesterday (Jun 05).
Sri Lanka attends 22nd Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention in Asia
The 22nd Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention in Asia was held in Uzbekistan from 29 to 31 May (2024). Representing Sri Lanka the Director of the National Authority for Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) under the Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka, Rear Admiral (Dr.) Ravi Ranasinghe, attended the event.
Discussion to review progress and further relief measures for flood victims held
A special discussion to review the progress of actions taken by the government to provide relief to the people displaced due to adverse weather conditions caused by the South West Monsoon and further required relief measures was held under the patronage of the State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon at the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) in Colombo, today (Jun 05).
UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs pledge to provide more
support for flood relief assistance
State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon chaired a meeting with representatives of UN agencies, INGOs and NGOS to educate them on the ongoing rescue and relief operations to assist bad weather affected communities, at his office in Colombo, today (Jun 05).
Commander of the Navy attends IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore
The Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera attended the 21st Asia Security Summit - IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, organized by International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The 21st Asia Security Summit was held from 31st May to 02nd June 2024 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore.
Programme of providing foreign employment to the retired armed forces members and war hero family members commenced on State Minister’s initiative
A meeting to educate tri forces personnel on the programme of providing foreign employment to retired tri forces personnel and members of war hero families was held under the patronage of State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, yesterday (Jun 04). This foreign employment programme was facilitated after successful discussions the State Minister Tennakoon had with Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Hon. Manusha Nanayakkara.
World Environment Day
Let's empower the collective effort to restore land and ecosystems, protect biodiversity and combat climate change
Deputy Commanding General (Strategy and Plans) US Army Pacific
(USARPAC) calls on Defence Secretary
Deputy Commanding General (Strategy and Plans), United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) Major General Scott A. Winter, paid a courtesy call on Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne at the Defence Headquarters Complex in Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte today (Jun 04).
Providing relief to bad weather affected communities will
continue - State Minister of Defence
According to the latest statistics, over 130,021 people belonging to 33,422 families in 262 Divisional Secretary Divisions have been affected by the prevailing bad weather. In addition, 26 deaths and 41 injuries to people have been reported. As of today morning, 9248 persons belonging to 2368 families are housed in 116 safe centers, stated State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon attending the parliamentary session today (June 04).
SL Army and Navy troops conduct Flood Relief and Rescue Operations
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Navy (SLN) have deployed several rescue and relief teams to assist people affected by floods and landslides.
Sri Lanka Navy secures safe passage for six
fishermen after high seas rescue
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) successfully brought six fishermen ashore on Sunday (Jun 02), following a rescue operation in the Southern Indian Ocean. The fishermen were originally retrieved from a distressed trawler by the MT Tonegawa, a merchant tanker, approximately 480 nautical miles (889 km) south of Dondra, SLN media said.
State Minister Tennakoon has emergency meeting with state officials on disaster management and relief measures
The State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and the State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Hon. Janaka Wakkumbura chaired a discussion at Ratnapura District Secretariat today (Jun 02) on providing relief to the flood victims in the Ratnapura district .
State Minister Tennakoon chairs another programme to look into the welfare and administrative affairs of War Hero families and retired Army veterans
Another programme organized by the Sri Lanka Army to look into the welfare and administrative affairs of retired/ medically retired military personnel and family members of war heroes who sacrificed their lives in the war was held today (Jun 02) at the Regimental Center of the Sri Lanka Army Gemunu Watch in Kuruwita.
State Minister Tennakoon chairs a programme to look into welfare and administrative affairs of War Hero families and retired Army veterans
- "The services of war heroes who sacrificed their lives and sustained injuries for the peace in motherland as well as the sacrifices of their families will always remain in our memory and we are eternally grateful to them."
Harsha Vithanaarachchi appointed as Additional Secretary (Defence)
Harsha Vithanaarachchi has been appointed as the Additional Secretary (Defence). He received his appointment letter from Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne yesterday (31 May).
State Minister of Defence to introduce
financial literacy in National Cadet Corps curriculum
State Minister of Defence, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon has announced plans to incorporate financial literacy into the curriculum of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
25 Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel qualify as ‘Oil Spill Incident
Management Instructors’ in Japan
A team of 25 personnel of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) successfully completed an advanced training program on Oil Spill Incident Management at the Maritime Disaster Prevention Centre (MDPC) in Yokosuka, Japan recently.
Defence Secretary graces sports shooting YouTube channel launching
Secretary Defence General Kamal Gunaratne graced the launching ceremony of the ‘Scorpion Top Shot’ YouTube channel as the chief guest on Wednesday (May 29).
Condolence Message on the landslide in Papua New Guinea
The Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka expresses its heartfelt condolence to the King and the people of Papua New Guinea over the loss of lives and destruction caused by the massive landslide in the Enga region.
Monsoonal rains to continue further
The inclement weather experienced in most parts of the country is likely to continue further according to the latest forecasts of the Met Dept. predicting showers of over 100mm at places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
New Pakistan High Commissioner meets
State Minister of Defence Tennakoon
The new High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Sri Lanka H.E. Major General Faheem-Ul-Aziz (Retd), paid a courtesy call on State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon at his office in Colombo today (May 29).