Press Release
Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) appointed
as Acting Minister of Defence
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake left the island this afternoon on an official visit to India, marking his first official foreign visit since assuming office.
Annual ‘Poppy Day’ ceremony to be held on 24 November
under the patronage of the President
The annual ‘Poppy Day’ ceremony, organized by the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association (SLESA) and its Armed Forces Commemorative Poppy Committee, is to be held under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake with the participation of distinguished guests at the Cenotaph in Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo, on November 24.
PRESS RELEASE
The Ministry of Defence has observed that the Sri Lanka Police and Sri Lanka Army have issued a significant number of pistols, revolvers and other firearms for the protection of Members of Parliament, Provincial Council members, political party leaders and political organizations as well as officers who held executive appointments in the government.
PRESS RELEASE
The National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) has issued warnings to the public on several occasions regarding an increase in various forms of recruitment to cyber scam centers in Myanmar.
PRESS RELEASE
In pursuant to Ministry of Defence press release on 06.10.2024, all licensees were informed to return their firearms and ammunition, issued for personal protection, to the Commercial Explosive Firearms and Ammunition Procurement Unit (CEFAP) at the Sri Lanka Navy camp in Welisara before 07.11.2024.
PRESS RELEASE
A bus carrying a group of persons from the Kotalawala Defence University (KDU) met with an accident at around 0745 on Friday morning (November 01) at the Ambagas junction on the Dunhinda -Badulla road. The group of 42 people included 36 students of the 39th KDU Intake, 3 lecturers, an Instructor in charge of the group, a senior military personnel in charge of the bus and the bus driver.
Road leading to Rotunda Roundabout along
Temple Trees opened for public use
A part of R.A. de Mel Mawatha in Kollupitiya Police area from St. Michael’s Roundabout to the Rotunda Roundabout along Temple Trees was closed for security reasons in 2005.
PRESS RELEASE
A decision has been taken to take over all firearms issued for personal protection to civilians by the Ministry of Defence. This decision was in accordance to the powers vested to the Defence Secretary under Sections 6(1) and 6(2) of the Firearms Ordinance Act No. 33 of 1916, to take over firearms on temporary basis to the government. Further, this decision is taken subjected to reissue them after a review process.
Clarification on paying of Motivation Incentive Allowance to tri forces personnel
Clarification on paying of Motivation Incentive Allowance to tri forces personnel
It has been noted that some media and social media platforms have reported that the motivation incentive allowance paid to tri forces personnel attached to VIP security details have been stopped.
NAHTTF issues an urgent warning on cyber scam centers and human trafficking
The National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) alerts the public to a dangerous rise in forced criminality linked to cyber scam centers in Myanmar. Human traffickers are actively targeting young IT professionals with deceptive job offers abroad.
Government addresses key issues of the Civil Security Personnel
The Civil Security Department (CSD), operating under the Ministry of Defence, has significantly contributed to ending the three-decade-long war and continues to play a vital role in ongoing development projects and society's overall well-being.
SL Defence Secretary urges Sri Lankans to refrain from seeking employment in Myanmar through illegal means
SL Defence Secretary urges Sri Lankans to refrain from seeking employment in Myanmar through illegal means
The Sri Lankan Government strongly advises its citizens to refrain from seeking employment in Myanmar through illegal foreign employment agents or persons and institutions involved in human trafficking. Alarming reports have revealed that a group of Sri Lankans who have illegally left for work in Myanmar are being forcibly detained for illegal activities in a camp in the cyber crime area operated by terrorist groups in Myanmar.
Take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the entire country and the smooth conduct of the upcoming presidential election - State Minister Tennakoon
Since the Election Commissioner announced the upcoming presidential election, the State Minister of Defence, Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, instructed the security chiefs of the country to take measures to ensure the security for the presidential candidates, citizens and the entire country during that period.
Round Table Discussion on “Sri Lanka's economic security
in 2024 - evaluating the outlook and risks”
The Institute of National Security Studies (INSS) organized a closed-door Round Table Discussion (RTD) on “Sri Lanka’s Economic Security in 2024 - Evaluating the Outlook and Risks” on Thursday, the 06th June 2024, from 1600 to 1800 at the Nandimithra Auditorium, Ministry of Defence. Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne graced the event as the Chief Guest.
Press Release
As approved by the Board of Management of KDU, the interview Panel for selecting civilian candidates for MBBS degree program at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University is comprised of internal Staff Members and representatives from University Grant Commission and Sri Lanka Medical Council as observers. However, representatives of the Sri Lanka Medical Council didn’t take part in the interview process.
Special unit established to gather information on Sri Lankan citizens
being deployed in the Russia-Ukraine war
The Ministry of Defence has announced the establishment of a special unit to gather information on the human trafficking of retired Sri Lankan military personnel to the Russia-Ukraine war through illegal channels.
General Amnesty for Tri-Forces Absentees
The Ministry of Defence announces that the General Amnesty period announced from 20.04.2024 to 20.05.2024 for members of the Tri-Forces who have been marked as Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) is not applicable for Commissioned Officers who are marked as AWOL.
General Amnesty for Tri-Forces Absentees
The Ministry of Defence has declared a month long General Amnesty from 20 April to 20 May (2024) to Tri-Forces absentees, enabling them to receive an official discharge from their respective services.
Defence State Minister comments to the media on the current
dry weather conditions and forest fires
State Minister for Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon held a media brief yesterday (March 13) in Colombo to comment on the dry weather conditions prevailing in the country and the increase in forest fires in dry weather conditions.
“SOUTH ASIAN GEOPOLITICS IN 2024: LESSONS FOR SRI LANKA”
The Institute of National Security Studies (INSS), the Ministry of Defence’s premier think tank on national security, hosted a close door webinar on “South Asian Geopolitics in 2024: Lessons for Sri Lanka” on Thursday, February 15, 2024, from 1000hrs to 1200hrs (IST) via Zoom. The Guest Speaker for the event was, Lieutenant General Vinod G. Khandare PVSM, AVSM, SM (Retd.), Principal Adviser,
Press release
The Cabinet has approved the Cabinet Paper No. 23/2527/603/061 dated 24.01.2024, on paying of salary and allowances to the dependents of deceased Tri-Forces personnel, who had retired from service on medical grounds owing to terrorist activities during active service in the war prior to 19.05.2009, those deceased prior to reaching 55 years.
SLAF Helicopter Crash in Central Africa: Defence Ministry Refutes
Al-Shabaab Hostage Claims
The Ministry of Defence in Sri Lanka strongly refuted the allegations that a group of Sri Lankans was taken hostage by the Al-Shabaab militant group after a SLAF helicopter crash-landed in Somalia.
Regarding the false propaganda in the media on 04.12.2023 in connection with the Defense Service Command and Staff College
The Ministry of Defence emphasizes that there is no truth behind media reports published recently giving a wrong interpretation that a lot of money has been spent in the year 2022 for entertaining military heads who periodically arrive on inspection visits to the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC).
Press Release
A report has been called to find out whether members of the Civil Security Department assigned for duties at places of worship, state and other institutions are involved in other activities.
State Minister Tennakoon directs authorities to take immediate action to
remove roadside trees at risk of falling
State Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon has directed officials of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and National Building Research Organization (NBRO) to coordinate with the Environmental Authority, Road Development Authority (RDA) and local authority bodies and carry out an immediate study of large roadside trees at risk of falling due to the prevailing wet conditions and remove any which may pose a threat to the public.