Secretary of the Ministry of Environment B.M.U.D. Basnayake has now been appointed as the Secretary of Defence, replacing former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

It was speculated before the election that former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka will be appointed as the Defence Secretary under Maithripala Sirisena’s rule.

Basnayake is a member of the Sri Lankan administrative service.

It is learnt that the Ministry of Defence will be kept under President Maithripala Sirisena.