This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2019) |
Agency overview | |
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Formed | 1999 |
Jurisdiction | Sri Lanka |
Agency executive |
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This article is part of a series on the |
Politics of Sri Lanka |
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The National Security Council (NSC) 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 National Security Council established in June 1999 by an Gazette notification, by President Chandrika Kumaratunga following the military set backs in Operation Jayasikurui taking over direct control of the military from her cousin General Anuruddha Ratwatte, the deputy defense minister. The NSC came to national attention following the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings, in which Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe claimed that although a member, he was not invited to NSC sessions chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena following the 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis.[1]
Chairperson | President | Anura Kumara Dissanayake |
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Statutory Members | Prime Minister | Harini Amarasuriya |
Minister of Defence | Anura Kumara Dissanayake | |
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence |
Air vice-marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha | |
Chief of the Defence Staff Commander of the Army Commander of the Navy Commander of the Air Force Inspector General of Police |
General Shavendra Silva Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana Vacant | |
Appointed Members | Personnel appointed by the President Chief of National Intelligence Director, SIS |
Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointed Cabinet Minister of Law and Order as an Advisor to the President on National Security, which was stylised by media and other government departments[3] as National Security Advisor. However as the title is not a codified or established government position, the advisor is not an ex-officio member of the National Security Council.