The Ministry of Defence which has now been shifted to the newly constructed Defence Headquarters Complex in Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte commenced its operations this morning (18 May 2021). The event was organized to coincide with the 12th anniversary of the day Sri Lankan Armed Forces militarily defeated terrorism. The new Ministry premises was declared open by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne. The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana along with Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Chandana Wickramaratne participated for this historic event.

General Gunaratne also handed over the document to proceed with the recently announced Cabinet approval for the lifetime salary and allowances payment for war hero dependents, to Tri-Forces Commanders and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Significantly, the construction of this new office building was done by civil engineering troops from the Directorate of Civil Engineering of the SLAF under the leadership of Air Vice Marshal Rohan Pathirage, the Director of the Project Management Unit, Defence Headquarters Complex at Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.