Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)


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Sri Lanka Armed Forces

Service branches National Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Army
Naval Ensign of the Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Navy
Sri Lanka Air Force Ensign Sri Lanka Air Force
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief President Mahinda Rajapakse
Minister of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order President Mahinda Rajapakse
Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera
Manpower
Military age 18-49 years of age (2001)
Available for
military service
4,933,217 (2005 est.) males, age 15–49,
5,153,597 females, age 15–49
Fit for
military service
3,789,627 males, age 15–49,
4,281,043 females, age 15–49
Reaching military
age annually
Males: 174,049
Females: 167,201 (2005 est.)
Active personnel 157,900 (ranked 35th)
Reserve personnel 50,000 volunteer reserve
Expenditures
Budget FY 2004 - ranked 74th
US $ 1.48 billion (2008 est.)
Percent of GDP 5% (2008 est.)


The Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order is the Sri Lankan government ministry responsible for implementation of government defence policy and the headquarters of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.

The Ministry of Defence states that its principal objectives are the formulation, co-ordination and the execution of policies in relation to the security of the country. With the end of the Cold War the MOD does not foresee any short-term conventional military threat, at present the main threat to Sri Lanka is from internal terrorism(LTTE). The Ministry of Defence also manages day to day running of the armed forces, contingency planning and defence procurement.

The National Security Council of Sri Lanka is the executive body of the Sri Lankan government that is charged with the maintenance of national security with authority to direct the Sri Lankan military and Police. The Minister of Defence and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and the Chief of the Defence Staff are permanent members of the National Security Council.

Contents

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[edit] History

With Ceylon gaining independence in 1948, the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence was formed to administer the country's armed forces and formulate defense and foreign policy. The Prime Minister was also the Minister of Defence and External Affairs, and was supported by a Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and External Affairs who was a member of Parliament.In 1977, J.R Jayawardena's government adapted two separate ministries, forming the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were formed. Since then many presidents retained the portfolio of Minister of Defence under him/her self, except for a few brief periods. In 1999 the [[National Security Council of Sri Lanka|National Security Council] was established removing the direct control the military from the deputy Minister of Defence.

[edit] Senior officials

The President of Sri Lanka His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse is the Minister of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order

Sri Lanka

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[edit] Objectives

  • Maintenance of internal security and defence of Sri Lanka.
  • Implementation and maintenance of the Prevention of terrorism Act No. 48 of 1979 as amended by the Act No. 10 of 1982.
  • Maintenance of the Commonwealth War Memorials and the War Graves, on behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  • Supervision and maintenance of the establishment matters of the three services and the Kotalawala Defence Academy.
  • Supervision and maintenance of the establishment matters of the National Cadets Corps.

In pursuance of the above objectives the Ministry of Defence provides policy directives and guidelines to the Departments functioning under it.

[edit] Key Functions

[edit] Departments that come under the Ministry of Defence

  • Department of Immigration & Emigration
  • Department of Registration of Persons
  • Department of Civil Defence (formerly the Home Guard Service)
  • The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board
  • Ranaviru Seva Authority (Veteran's Welfare Authority)

[edit] Ministers attached to the Ministry of Defence

Since the establishment of the MoD in 1978 the portfolio of Minister of Defence was held by the President of Sri Lanka, except for a few brief periods . However a minister oversaw activities of the MoD and the armed forces. Incomplete

[edit] Permanent Secretaries

Incomplete

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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