Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 8 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mr Levan S. Dzhagaryan, met the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), on 07th May, at the Ministry of Defence. During the meeting, the Defence Secretary and the Russian Ambassador held a cordial discussion. The discussions focused on further strengthening defence and security cooperation between...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 8 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: A high-level consultative meeting was convened yesterday (07 May) at the Parliament Complex to initiate the formulation of a robust National Mechanism for Drowning Prevention and Lifesaving. The initiative aims to create a synchronized, multi-sectoral framework to mitigate water-related fatalities and enhance public safety across the island. The meeting marked a long-overdue first step tow...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 8 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) engaged in a high-level diplomatic discussion with General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, and his accompanying delegation today (8 May) at the Hilton hotel Colombo. The meeting focused on strengthening long-standing bilateral ties and enhancing defence cooperation between the t...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 2 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), visited the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) Headquarters in Mirissa and the Lifesaving Training School in Balapitiya last Thursday (30 April). Upon his arrival, the Deputy Minister was received by the Director General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (DGCG), Rear Admiral Rohan Joseph. During his visit to the Lifesaving Training Sc...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 29 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The President "The respect shown by the people of Sri Lanka, the smiles on their faces and the openness with which they extended their care demonstrate what true strength is. This is what a peaceful nation looks like. For this, I offer my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of myself, the peace walk team and everyone who took part in this journey." * "If every individual cultivates peace wi...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 29 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka, with accreditation to the Maldives, H.E. Mr. Damiano Francovigh, paid a courtesy call on the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), at the Ministry of Defence today (29 April). During the meeting, they discussed matters of mutual interest, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation in defence and sec...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 27 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: A coordination meeting on the construction of interim shelters for communities affected by Cyclone 'Ditwah' was held yesterday (April 26) at the Army Headquarters under the patronage of the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd). The discussion focused on reviewing progress and expediting the implementation of interim shelter projects in the worst affected dis...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 27 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), attended the ANZAC Day Dawn Service and paid tribute at the ANZAC memorial monument during the annual commemoration held last Saturday (25 April) at the Jawatta Liveramentu Commonwealth War Cemetery in Colombo. ANZAC Day, commemorated annually on 25 April, marks the first major military engagement of Australian and N...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 25 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), held a series of multilateral meetings on the sidelines of his official visit to the United Nations Headquarters in New York, accompanied by the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, H.E. Mr. Jayantha Jayasooriya on 23 April (2026). In a bilateral meeting with H.E. Wellington Bencosme, Permanent ...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 25 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: During the official visit to the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), together with the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, H.E. Mr. Jayantha Jayasooriya, held a meeting with H.E. Michael G. Waltz, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on 23 April (2026). The discussio...