The position of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) will no longer be continued, as its responsibilities are already being overseen by the Defence Ministry, Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha announced today (29 January).
Speaking at a media briefing at the Department of Government Information, Thuyacontha responded to questions regarding why the government has not appointed a successor to former CDS General Shavendra Silva.
“We don’t see the necessity to continue this post anymore. Its roles and duties are already being handled by the Defence Ministry. If a need arises in the future, we will act accordingly,” he stated.
The CDS is the highest-ranking military officer in Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces, responsible for coordinating joint operations across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. However, individual service commands retain significant autonomy over their deployments.
The role traces its origins to the Joint Operations Command (JOC), established in 1985 to enhance coordination among the tri-forces and police during the Sri Lankan Civil War. It later evolved into the Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH) in 1999 and was formally expanded under the Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009.
