President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has underscored the importance of developing Sri Lanka’s defence forces into one of the most professional in the world.
He has instructed officials to ensure that budgetary allocations are properly directed towards providing the necessary training and facilities to achieve this objective.
The President issued these directives during the preliminary budget discussion of the Ministry of Defence for 2026, held at the Presidential Secretariat.
At the meeting, the progress of projects implemented under the 2025 budgetary provisions was reviewed, while ongoing programmes for the Sri Lanka Army, Navy, Air Force, the Civil Security Department, and cadet officers were also evaluated, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).
Special focus was placed on overseas training opportunities for defence personnel. Highlighting that such training differs significantly from that provided to other government officials, the President stressed the need for closer attention in this area.
He also directed that the families of Civil Security Department members who lost their lives in the war should be granted the same compensation provided to families of other defence service personnel.
Commenting on the high expenditure borne by the government to maintain the Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Hospital, the President instructed that its services be further streamlined to deliver more efficient and effective healthcare to the public.
The discussion also covered construction projects linked to the Ministry of Defence and welfare measures for defence personnel.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence H. S. Sampath Thuyacontha, Senior Additional Secretaries to the President Russell Aponsu and Kapila Janaka Bandara, the Commanders of the Tri-Forces, officials of institutions under the Defence Ministry, and senior officials of the Finance Ministry.
