Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 25 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The outgoing Naval Attache of the United States Embassy in Colombo, Lieutenant Commander Jessica De Mont, outgoing Deputy Defence Attache, Mr. Seth Nevins, and the incoming Naval Attache, Lieutenant Commander Samuel Gitlitz, called on the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), and the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), on separate o...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 25 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The 8th Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting of the Reduction of Landslide Vulnerability by Mitigation Measures Project (RLVMMP), implemented by the National Building Research Institute (NBRI), was held today (25 June) at the Ministry of Defence. Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), in his capacity as Chairman of the Project Steering Committee, presided ove...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 25 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, paid farewell calls on the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), and the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), on separate occasions on 25 June. The Deputy Minister of Defence expressed his appreciation for the Navy Commander's distinguished service and leadership, ...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 25 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: His Excellency Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Rear Admiral Hasantha Dassanaike to cover the duties of the Director National Authority for the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC), with effect from 26 June 2026. The newly appointed Director officially received his letter of appointment from the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), du...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 24 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Mr. Marc-Andre Franche, and the World Food Programme (WFP) Representative and Country Director, Mr. Philip Ward, met with Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) for a discussion at the Ministry of Defence today (24 June). The meeting focused on the World Food Programme's ongoing work in Sri Lanka and provided an...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 23 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The 'World Hydrography Day 2026' commemorative ceremony, organized by the Sri Lanka Navy in collaboration with the Sri Lanka National Hydrographic Office, was held today (23 June) at the "Wave n' Lake" Navy Hall in Welisara, commemorating the global observance that highlights the vital role of hydrography in navigational safety, marine environmental protection, and the sustainable use of ...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 23 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The United States delivered an advanced Fleet Broadband satellite communication system to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), significantly enhancing maritime connectivity and operational capabilities across the Sri Lanka Navy's Offshore Patrol Fleet. The announcement was made during a special reception held onboard SLNS Gajabahu at the Port of Colombo on 22 June. The event was attended by Hon. De...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 23 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: General Kevin B. Schneider, Commander of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), who is currently on a three day official visit to Sri Lanka from 21 to 24 June 2026, paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), at his office in Colombo on 22 June. The Deputy Minister expressed his pleasure at the visit, noting that such high level e...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 23 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: Commander of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), General Kevin B. Schneider, paid a courtesy call on the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), at the Ministry of Defence today (23 June). The Defence Secretary warmly welcomed General Schneider and, during the cordial discussion, expressed his appreciation for the longstanding partnership between Sri Lan...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 23 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The official handover of ten TH-57 Sea Ranger multi-purpose helicopters donated by the Government of the United States to enhance the Sri Lanka Air Force's pilot training capacity and expand its air operations took place this afternoon (23) at the Ratmalana Air Force Base under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Upon his arrival at the Ratmalana Air Force Base this afte...