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The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the most senior appointment in the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, and the highest-ranking military officer in service, outranking the heads of each service branch. The CDS does not, however, have operational command authority over service branches, but rather oversees inter-service co-operation and develops and implements the joint operations doctrine of the Sri Lankan armed forces. Coordination of inter-service joint operations are handled by the Office of the Chief of the Defence Staff formally known as the ''Joint Operations Headquarters''. The CDS is the Chairman of a Committee made up of service commanders and is a member of the National Security Council. It's subordinate command is known as the
Overall Operational Command The Overall Operational Command (OOC) was established on 29 April 2019 following the Easter Sunday Bombings bringing under its command all Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force and Sri Lanka Police units within the Western Province a ...
.


History

The post could be traced back to post of general officer commanding (GOC) of the ''Joint Operations Command'' when
General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...
T. I. Weerathunga was first appointed to it on November 2, 1985. The Joint Operations Command was created in 1985 due to a need to co-ordinate of joint operations among the tri-services and the police with the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War. The post itself was created in 1999 replacing the civilian post of chief of the ''Joint Operations Bureau'' which had existed briefly in 1999. Its powers expanded under the ''Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009''. In recent years, the Chief of the Defence Staff was appointed to the highest rank in the branch of the Sri Lankan armed forces to which he belonged (equivalent to a British " four-star" rank) being a
General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...
, an Admiral or an Air Chief Marshal. According to the new Bill, the president of Sri Lanka appoints to the post of Chief of Defence Staff any person presently serving as Commander of the Army, Navy or the Air Force, to function under the direction, supervision and control of the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Defence.


Responsibilities

* Assist in providing for the strategic direction of the armed forces * Development of doctrine for the
joint A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw- ...
employment of the armed forces * Facilitation of preparation of strategic plans for the armed forces * Co-ordination of matters relating to
intelligence Intelligence has been defined in many ways: the capacity for abstraction, logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. More generally, it can be des ...
as between the armed forces; * To undertake assessments to determine the capabilities of the armed forces in comparison with those of their potential * Preparation of operational plans for the armed forces


Supporting and associated posts

The CDS is assisted by a chief of staff (two-star rank) and four director generals (operations and systems, training, naval and air operations, coordination) making up the Office of the Chief of the Defence Staff. In addition, the CDS has a personal staff consisting of the secretary to the CDS, two aides-de-camp, and principal staff officers.


General officer commanding, Joint Operations Command (1985–1999)

*
General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...
T. I. Weerathunga *
General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...
S.
Cyril Ranatunga General S. Cyril Ranatunga, VSV (19 February 1930 – 16 June 2021) was a Sri Lanka Army officer. He served as Secretary of Defence, General Officer Commanding, Joint Operations Command and Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army during the 1980s ...
*
General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...
Hamilton Wanasinghe General Hamilton Wanasinghe, VSV (born 1935) was a Full General in the Sri Lanka Army. He served as the 11th Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (1988–1991), third General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH) (at ...
* Air Chief Marshal
Walter Fernando Air Chief Marshal Andibuduge Walter Fernando, VSV, ndc, psc was a senior Sri Lanka Air Force officer, who served as the 7th Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force and thereafter Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. Air force career ...


Chief of the Defence Staff (1999–present)

Ranks and honours are as at the completion of their tenure:


See also

* Office of the Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka) *
National Security Council of Sri Lanka 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. History The National Secu ...
* Commander of the Army * Commander of the Navy * Commander of the Air Force


References


External links


official website of the office of the chief of the defence staff




{{Chief of military by country Military of Sri Lanka Sri Lankan commands Sri Lanka Sri Lankan military appointments