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Maj. Gen. Peiris appointed as new Army Chief of Staff

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Major General W.H.K.S Peiris of Gajaba Regiment has been appointed as the new Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 16 December 2023. 

Prior to his new appointment, he has been serving as the Commander, of Security Forces – West.  

Born on 6th June 1969, he is a proud product of St Anthony’s Boys School in Panadura and Thurstan College, Colombo. During his schooling, he excelled in studies and athletics earning honour and fame at the school.

He joined the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 26th July 1988 in the Intake 30. Upon successful completion of the basic military training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and was posted to the Gajaba Regiment (GR) which is an elegant Infantry Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army on 09th June 1990. After being steadily elevated to subsequent ranks in the course of the span of service in the Army, he was promoted to the rank of Major General on 07 May 2021.

Throughout his military career, he has served in Command, Staff, and Instructional appointments exemplifying his extraordinary capacities in respective appointments in the Sri Lanka Army. He has extensively pledged exceptional dedication towards assignments of combat duties during the humanitarian operation in the North and East of the country before May 2009.

His appointments include Platoon Commander, Officer Commanding, ADC to Major General S.T.T Jayasundara (Rtd), Adjutant – Army Training School, Operation and Training Company Commander, Security Officer at Base Ordnance Deport Maradana, General Staff Officer II – 21 Infantry Division, Second in Command – 3 GR, Staff Officer II – Quarter Master  General Branch, Staff Officer II – Directorate of Personal Administration, Staff Officer II – Transits Camp Anuradapura, Security Coordinator -Ministry of  Defence, Commanding Officer – 8 GR, Brigade Commander of 522 Infantry Brigade, Center Commandant – Regimental HQ, Director – Directorate of Movement, General Officer Commanding of 52 Infantry Division, Military Advisor – United Nations Headquarters New York, Commander, Security Force – West and Colonel Commandant of Military Intelligence Corps.

 Major General W.H.K.S Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndu followed many local and foreign courses, such as Platoon  Commander’s Tactics  Course, Battalion Support Weapon Course,  Basic Parachute Course, Air Mobile Course, Young Officer Course – India, Junior Command course – India, Capstone Exercise ‘Shanty Prayas’ – Nepal, Senior Command Course – India, Asia Pacific Centre For Security Studies Comprehensive Crisis Management Seminar – Honolulu – Hawaii and  Defence and Strategic Studies Programme in China.

The Senior Officer has been adorned with gallantry awards of ‘Rana Wickrama Padakkama’ (RWP) and ‘Rana Sura Padakkama’ (RSP) for his distinguished conduct in the face of the enemy and recipient of Videsha Seva Padakkama (VSV) in recognition of his distinguished service to the organization.

Major General W.H.K.S Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndu is also the Colonel Commandant of Military Intelligence Corps and married to Mrs Dilupa Peiris and blessed with three daughters.

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Harshana Suriyapperuma resigns from Parliament

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Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, who served as the Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, has resigned from Parliament. 

He is reportedly tipped to be appointed as the new Secretary to the Ministry of Finance after the retirement of Mahinda Siriwardana at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of Parliament – Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera has informed the Chairman of the Election Commission in writing that a vacancy has arisen in Parliament due to the resignation of Dr. Suriyapperuma.

Dr. Suriyapperuma, a National List Member of Parliament representing the National People’s Power (NPP) and the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Stabilization, submitted his letter of resignation to the Secretary General of Parliament.According to the letter submitted by Dr. Suriyapperuma, the resignation is effective from June 20, 2025.

Accordingly, the Secretary General has informed the Chairman of the Election Commission that, in terms of Section 64(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act No. 1 of 1981, the seat held by Dr. Harsha Suriyapperuma in the Tenth Parliament is now vacant.

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit SL

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The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from June 23 – 26, 2025. 

This marks the first visit by a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Sri Lanka since February 2016.
During the visit, the High Commissioner is scheduled to call on the President and the Prime Minister. He will also hold meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, several other Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior Government officials, religious leaders, representatives of civil society, members of the diplomatic community, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

As part of the programme, the High Commissioner will travel to Kandy where he will pay respects to The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and call on the Chief Prelates of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters. He will also travel to Jaffna and Trincomalee where he will meet with the Governors of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Substantive discussions during the visit will focus on further advancing the promotion and protection of human rights and reconciliation, in line with the Government of Sri Lanka’s ongoing constructive engagement with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

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3 DMT officials remanded until July 07

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Three officials from the Narahenpita branch of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT), including the Deputy Commissioner, have been remanded until July 07 following allegations of accepting bribes totaling nearly Rs. 04 million.

The suspects were presented before Colombo Chief Magistrate Tanuja Lakmali Jayatunga earlier today (June 20) and court ordered their continued detention as investigations are continuing.Authorities allege that the officials solicited bribes from members of the public seeking vehicle licenses and registration services with these bribes reportedly discovered in their possession during the arrest.

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