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Minister of Defence (Sri Lanka)

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Minister of Defence of Sri Lanka
since 23 September 2024
Ministry of Defence
Inaugural holderDon Stephen Senanayake
Formation24 September 1947
Websitewww.defence.lk

The Minister of Defence is an appointment in the Cabinet of Sri Lanka who is responsible for the implementation of the Government of Sri Lankas defence policy and the headquarters of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. The post was first created in 1947 as Minister of External Affairs and Defence, in 1978 the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence separated into two ministries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence. Prior to the separation of the post the Minister of External Affairs and Defence was held by the Prime Minister since 1947, with a Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and External Affairs who was an elected parliamentarian and was the de facto foreign minister.

List of Defence Ministers

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No. Portrait Name
(Born-Died) 		Term Political Party Head(s) of Government
Took office Left office Time in office
Minister of External Affairs and Defence
1
D. S. Senanayake
D. S. Senanayake
(1883–1952)		24 September 194722 March 1952 †4 years, 180 daysUNPD. S. Senanayake
2
Dudley Senanayake
Dudley Senanayake
(1911–1973)		22 March 195212 October 19531 year, 204 daysUNPDudley Senanayake
3
John Kotelawala
John Kotelawala
(1895–1980)		12 October 195312 April 19562 years, 183 daysUNPJohn Kotelawala
4
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
(1899–1959)		12 April 195626 September 1959 †3 years, 167 daysSLFPS. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
5
Wijeyananda Dahanayake
Wijeyananda Dahanayake
(1901–1997)		26 September 195920 March 1960176 daysSinhala Language FrontWijeyananda Dahanayake
(2)
Dudley Senanayake
Dudley Senanayake
(1911–1973)		21 March 196021 July 1960122 daysUNPDudley Senanayake
6
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
(1916–2000)		21 July 196025 March 19654 years, 247 daysSLFPSirimavo Bandaranaike
(2)
Dudley Senanayake
Dudley Senanayake
(1911–1973)		25 March 196529 May 19705 years, 65 daysUNPDudley Senanayake
(6)
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
(1916–2000)		29 May 197023 July 19777 years, 55 daysSLFPSirimavo Bandaranaike
7
J. R. Jayewardene
J. R. Jayewardene
(1906–1996)		23 July 19774 February 1978196 daysUNPJ. R. Jayewardene
Minister of Defence
1
Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa
(1924–1993)		1989??UNPRanasinghe Premadasa
2
Ranjan Wijeratne
Ranjan Wijeratne
(1931–1991)		???UNPRanasinghe Premadasa
3
Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
(1916–2008)		7 May 199312 November 19941 year, 189 daysUNPDingiri Banda Wijetunga
4
Chandrika Kumaratunga
Chandrika Kumaratunga
(born 1945)		12 November 199412 December 20017 years, 30 daysSLFPChandrika Kumaratunga
5
Tilak Marapana
Tilak Marapana
(born 1942)		12 December 20014 November 20031 year, 327 daysUNPChandrika Kumaratunga
(4)
Chandrika Kumaratunga
Chandrika Kumaratunga
(born 1945)		4 November 200319 November 20052 years, 15 daysSLFPChandrika Kumaratunga
Minister of Defence and Urban Development
1
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa
(born 1945)		19 November 20058 January 20159 years, 50 daysSLFPMahinda Rajapaksa
Minister of Defence
6
Maithripala Sirisena
Maithripala Sirisena
(born 1951)		12 January 201518 November 20194 years, 310 daysSLFPMaithripala Sirisena
7
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
(born 1949)		28 November 201914 July 20222 years, 228 daysSLPPGotabaya Rajapaksa
8
Ranil Wickremesinghe
Ranil Wickremesinghe
(born 1949)		15 July 202223 September 20242 years, 120 daysUNPRanil Wickremesinghe
9
Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Anura Kumara Dissanayake
(born 1972)		23 September 2024Incumbent50 daysJVPAnura Kumara Dissanayake

See also

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References

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