The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to repeal the Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009.
According to the government, the decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting held on 24 February 2025.
As such, the draft bill for the repeal, prepared by the Legislative Draftsman and cleared by the Attorney General, will be published in the Government Gazette before being presented to Parliament for approval.
The proposal was submitted by the President, in his capacity as Minister of Defence, and received unanimous Cabinet endorsement.
Addressing the post-Cabinet media briefing today, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that the post of Chief of Defence Staff was created in 2009, soon after the end of the war.
He further said that the government is of the view that the post of Chief of Defence Staff is non-essential under the current circumstances.
“This is the stance of the government and the Defence Ministry. As such, we are moving towards preparing a draft bill to repeal the Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009,” he added. (Newswire)