Sri Lanka's parliamentary oversight committee has endorsed legislation to repeal the Chief of Defence Staff role established in 2009, with the measure set for parliamentary debate next week.
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection has given its approval to the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Bill, clearing the way for further legislative proceedings. The committee's decision came after a meeting that included representatives from the Ministry of Defence and the heads of the country's three armed forces.
The proposed legislation aims to eliminate the Chief of Defence Staff position that was created through legislation passed in 2009. According to committee member Najith Indika, the repeal is being considered as part of broader restructuring efforts within the Defence Ministry. Indika noted that coordination functions among the three armed services are currently managed directly by the Ministry of Defence, which forms the rationale for removing the separate Chief of Defence Staff role.
Parliament is scheduled to take up the Bill for its second reading on September 9, marking the next stage in the legislative process. The involvement of senior Defence Ministry officials and all three military commanders in the committee proceedings underscores the significance of the proposed changes to the defence establishment's command structure.