Ministry of Defence - Sri Lanka

News

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UNHCR official calls on Defence Secretary

The Head of Protection Service Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Ms. Karen Whiting made a call on the Defence Secretary  Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) at the Defence Ministry on Tuesday (Dec 03).


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Ministry of Defence wins Bronze Medal for Best Annual
Report and Accounts for Public Sector - 2023

The Ministry of Defence has won the Bronze Award for the ‘Best Annual Report and Accounts for Public Sector - 2023’ for the second consecutive year.


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Defence Secretary Graces Mercantile Swimming Championship 2024

The Mercantile Swimming Championship 2024 for the prestigious President’s Challenge Trophy, organized by the Thurstan College Aquatic Club for the 15thconsecutive year, unfolded at the Thurstan College Swimming Complex on December 01. Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.


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Ministry staffers donate blood at the Annual Blood Donation Campaign

A large number of Ministry of Defence staffers volunteered to donate blood at the Annual Blood Donation Campaign, today (Nov 29). This morning, the campaign organized by the Welfare Association of the Ministry was held at the Ministry premises.


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Deputy Minister of Defence Reviews Flood Relief Efforts in Ampara

Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), visited the disaster-affected Ampara district on November 28 to assess the flood situation and oversee ongoing relief operations.


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Defence Secretary inspects disaster relief operations in Jaffna

Accompanied by the Director General of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Maj. Gen. Udaya Herath (Retd) and senior tri forces officers in Jaffna he met with state officials involved in disaster relief operations and inquired into the present situation and progress of the coordinated relief operations being carried out with the assistance of the tri forces.


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Deputy Minister of Defence looks into disaster relief activities in Mannar

Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) made an emergency visit to Mannar last evening (Nov 26) to assess and inspect the disaster situation and relief efforts in the region.


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Heavy rains and strong winds likely to increase over the island

The heavy rains accompanied by strong winds experienced in many parts of the country due to the depression in the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify.


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Defence Secretary graces 53rd Bangladesh Armed Forces Day Ceremony

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) graced the 53rd Bangladesh Armed Forces Day ceremony as the Chief Guest at Hotel Shangri-La in Colombo last evening (Nov 25).


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Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) assumes
duty as Deputy Minister of Defence

Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) assumed duty as the Deputy Minister of Defence at his news office at the Disaster Management Centre in Colombo, today (Nov 25).

H.E. the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake graced the ceremony held this morning.

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) was also among those present at the occassion.

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Strengthening institutional frameworks alone is not sufficient for disaster management:
mechanisms must be established to implement solutions at the ground level

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that simply reinforcing institutional frameworks is insufficient for effective disaster management. The President stressed the need to establish mechanisms to deliver practical solutions at the grassroots level.


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SLAF and Montana National Guard successfully conclude
CBRN response and EOD expert exchange programme

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and Montana National Guard successfully concluded a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Response, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Maritime Port Recovery at SLAF Base Katunayake from November 18 to 22, SLAF media says.


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The SL Navy assists the Maldivian Coast Guard in seizing an SL fishing trawler carrying crystal methamphetamine and cocaine

A joint intelligence-sharing operation between the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and the Maldivian Coast Guard led to the interception of a Sri Lankan fishing trawler carrying 344 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 124 kg of cocaine in the Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on November 23, SLN media says.


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President Joins Armed Forces Remembrance Day 2024 and Poppy Flower Ceremony

The main commemoration ceremony of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day - 2024 and Poppy flower celebration was held today (24) under the patronage of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The event took place at the Cenotaph War Memorial of the Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo.


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Birthday Wishes

Your Excellency, On this special day, we extend our heartfelt birthday wishes to you.


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Let Us Work Together with One Goal to Build a Better Nation

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called upon all public officials to unite with a common purpose and work together to transform the motherland into a better nation.


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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.


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Navy’s CBRN Unit conducts joint exercise at Colombo harbour

The Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) conducted a joint CBRN exercise at the Port of Colombo on Tuesday, November 19 to enhance the knowledge and awareness of participants in the on-going Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) program involving the Montana National Guard, the United States Coast Guard (District 13), and the Sri Lanka Air Force, the SLN media reports.


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IOM Chief of Mission meets Defence Secretary

The Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Ms. Kristin B. Parco, made a courtesy call on the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), at the Defence Headquarters Complex in Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte, today (Nov 20).


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Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) reappointed
as Secretary to the Ministry of Defence

Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) has been reappointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (Nov 19).


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Our challenges demand leaders who can think beyond conventional
military paradigms – Defence Secretary

“We live in an era where traditional military challenges intersect with cyber security threats, climate change implications, economic security and information warfare. The Indian Ocean Region, our periphery, stands at the crossroads of global maritime commerce and strategic competition. Our challenges demand leaders who can think beyond conventional military paradigms and understand the multidimensional nature of modern security challenges.


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JMSDF SAMIDARE arrives at the Port of Colombo

The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) ship SAMIDARE arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on Sunday (Nov 17).


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AFESA delegation meets Defence Secretary

A delegation of the Sri Lanka Air Force Ex-Servicemen’s Association (AFESA) Executive Committee, met the Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) at the Defence Ministry today (Nov 13).


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Director of COSATT meets Defence Secretary

Director of the Consortium of South Asian Think Tanks (COSATT), Dr. Nishchal N. Pandey, met the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), at the Defence Headquarters Complex in Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte, today (Nov 13).


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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.