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Part I · Appointment of Chief of Defence Staff

2. Appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff

Official English translation. The Sinhala text prevails. Open the official Sinhala text, official PDF on documents.gov.lk

(1)

The President shall appoint from among the persons presently serving as Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Navy or the Commander of the

Air Force as the case may be, an officer to be the Chief of

Defence Staff.

(2)

The Chief of Defence Staff shall function under the direction, supervision and control of the Secretary to the

Ministry of the Minister in charge of the subject of Defence

(hereinafter referred to as “the Secretary”).

(3)

Where an officer serving as the Commander of the

Army, the Commander of the Navy or the Commander of the

Air Force as the case may be, is appointed as the Chief of

Defence Staff, he shall, upon being so appointed, relinquish his position as the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Navy or the Commander of the Air Force, as the case may be :

Provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Army Act (Chapter 357), the Navy Act

(Chapter 358) and the Air Force Act (Chapter 359), the person so appointed as Chief of Defence Staff shall, for so long as he holds such position, continue to be a member of the regular force of the service to which he belonged at the time of his appointment under subsection (1) :

Provided further, when such officer relinquishes his position as the Commander of the Army, the

Commander of the Navy or the Commander of the Air Force, as the case may be, the officer so appointed shall, from the date of such appointment, be deemed to continue as a member of the regular force of the respective service to which he belonged prior to such appointment, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Army Act (Chapter 357), the

Navy Act (Chapter 358) or theAir Force Act (Chapter 359) as the case may be.

(4)

The Chief of Defence Staff shall, while so serving in the office of the Chief of Defence Staff, hold the rank of

General in the case of an officer of the Army, Admiral in the case of an officer of the Navy, and Air Chief Marshal in the case of an officer of the Air Force.

Part II

Committee of the Chief of Defence Staff

Part III

Staff

Part IV

General