COLOMBO (News 1st): President Maithripala Sirisena appointed General Shantha Kottegoda, WWV, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP as the Secretary of Defence a short while ago.

Gen. Kottegoda was the 17th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (2004 to 2005) and a battle-hardened senior officer of the Sri Lanka Army.  He is also an old boy of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia.

The appointment of Gen. Kottegoda comes after Hemasiri Fernando stepped down from the position.

Other appointments

Former IGP N.K. Illangakoon was appointed as an adviser at the Defence Ministry.

Meanwhile, President’s Counsel Jayantha Jayasuriya took his oaths as the new Chief Justice before the President. Jayantha Jayasuriya joined the Attorney General’s Department as a prosecutor in 1983. He was appointed as the Additional Solicitor General in 2011 and worked as the Attorney General from February 11, 2016.

Additional Solicitor General Dappula de Livera took his oaths as the Acting Attorney General before the President.

The new Auditor General Chulantha Wickremaratne commenced his duties after taking his oaths before the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

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