Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 18 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: Under the instructions of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the directives of Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), the Sri Lanka Army has deployed a special team to search for the wild elephant Agbo. This decision was taken after a request by the Minister of Environment. A platoon of 30 Sri Lanka Army personnel are working alongside wildlife officials in th...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 18 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: As human trafficking is an organized crime, it is practically impossible to combat this heinous crime alone. With this in mind, the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), organized a knowledge and experience-sharing session on human trafficking and human sm...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 18 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF), with the technical and logistical support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), conducted a two-day capacity-building programme for senior government officials in Nuwara Eliya District on 13 and 14 October 2026, culminating in the establishment of the Nuwara Eliya District Anti-Human Trafficking Forum (DATF). The...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 17 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: A contingent of 218 personnel, comprising 173 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and 45 Special Task Force (STF) personnel, departed Sri Lanka 16 October to join the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) mission in Haiti. This deployment follows the departure of another contingent of 280 Sri Lanka Army personnel, including 21 officers and 259 other ranks, on 14 October. These new personnel will join the Sri La...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 17 -- Sri Lanka Air Force issued the following news release: 2026-10-17 11:46:11 By SLAF Media 8 Comments -- > CHANGE OF COMMAND AT NO. 61 HELICOPTER FLIGHT SLAF BASE RATMALANA Wing Commander ISB Thibbotumunuwe MSc (Def & Strat Stu), Pg Dip (Def Mgt), psc handed over the command of No. 61 Helicopter Flight at SLAF Base Ratmalana to Wing Commander MWN De Silva on 05 October 2026. The Handing Over / Taking Over was held at the Squadron premises with the participation of...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 16 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) visited Army Headquarters today (16 October), where he was received by the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Nilantha Premaratne. During the visit, the Deputy Minister visited the Army Headquarters Operations Room, where he received briefings on the current operational functions and future plans of the Sri Lanka Arm...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 16 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) successfully participated in the second edition of the multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, which concluded on 12 October 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, India. The exercise brought together air forces from seven countries, providing a valuable platform to strengthen operational cooperation, enhance interoperability and foster professional relat...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 16 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), attended the Passing Out Parade of the Sri Lanka Air Force as the Chief Guest today (16 October) at the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy, China Bay, Trincomalee. Upon arrival, the Defence Secretary was received by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, and the Commandant of the SLAF Academy Air Vice Ma...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 16 -- Sri Lanka Air Force issued the following news release: 2026-10-16 12:02:07 By SLAF Media 8 Comments -- > COMMISSIONING AND FLYING BREVET AWARDING PARADE OF SRI LANKA AIR FORCE OFFICER CADETS AND LADY OFFICER CADETS HELD UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE AT SRI LANKA AIR FORCE ACADEMY CHINA BAY In a momentous display of military tradition and pride, the Commissioning and Flying Brevet Awarding Parade of the Sri Lanka Air Force was he...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 15 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The art and craft exhibition and musical concert organised under the 'Brave Hearts' programme, which aims to recognise the invaluable sacrifices of war heroes, appreciate their creativity and further encourage their artistic talents, was held on 14 October at the Grand Maitland Banquet Hall in Colombo. The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), attended the eve...