Minister of Defence (Sri Lanka)

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.

Minister of Defence of Sri Lanka
Incumbent
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
since 26 November 2020
Ministry of Defence
Inaugural holderDon Stephen Senanayake
Formation24 September 1947
DeputyChamal Rajapaksa
Websitewww.defence.lk

List of Defence Ministers
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
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
(1883–1952)		24 September 194722 March 1952 †4 years, 180 daysUnited National PartyD. S. Senanayake
2
Dudley Senanayake
(1911–1973)		22 March 195212 October 19531 year, 204 daysUnited National PartyDudley Senanayake
3
John Kotelawala
(1895–1980)		12 October 195312 April 19562 years, 183 daysUnited National PartyJohn Kotelawala
4
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
(1899–1959)		12 April 195626 September 1959 †3 years, 167 daysSri Lanka Freedom PartyS. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
5
Wijeyananda Dahanayake
(1901–1997)		26 September 195920 March 1960176 daysSri Lanka Freedom PartyWijeyananda Dahanayake
(2)
Dudley Senanayake
(1911–1973)		21 March 196021 July 1960122 daysUnited National PartyDudley Senanayake
6
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
(1916–2000)		21 July 196025 March 19654 years, 247 daysSri Lanka Freedom PartySirimavo Bandaranaike
(2)
Dudley Senanayake
(1911–1973)		25 March 196529 May 19705 years, 65 daysUnited National PartyDudley Senanayake
(6)
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
(1916–2000)		29 May 197023 July 19777 years, 55 daysSri Lanka Freedom PartySirimavo Bandaranaike
7
J. R. Jayewardene
(1906–1996)		23 July 19774 February 1978196 daysUnited National PartyJ. R. Jayewardene
Minister of Defence
1
Ranasinghe Premadasa
(1924–1993)		1989??United National PartyRanasinghe Premadasa
2
Ranjan Wijeratne
(1931–1991)		???United National PartyRanasinghe Premadasa
3
Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
(1916–2008)		7 May 199312 November 19941 year, 189 daysUnited National PartyDingiri Banda Wijetunga
4
Chandrika Kumaratunga
(born 1945)		12 November 199412 December 20017 years, 30 daysSri Lanka Freedom PartyChandrika Kumaratunga
5
Tilak Marapana
(born 1942)		12 December 20014 November 20031 year, 327 daysUnited National PartyChandrika Kumaratunga
(4)
Chandrika Kumaratunga
(born 1945)		4 November 200319 November 20052 years, 15 daysSri Lanka Freedom PartyChandrika Kumaratunga
Minister of Defence and Urban Development
1
Mahinda Rajapaksa
(born 1945)		19 November 20058 January 20159 years, 50 daysSri Lanka Freedom PartyMahinda Rajapaksa
Minister of Defence
6
Maithripala Sirisena
(born 1951)		12 January 201518 November 20194 years, 310 daysSri Lanka Freedom PartyMaithripala Sirisena
7
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
(born 1949)		26 November 2020IncumbentIncumbentSri Lanka Podujana PeramunaGotabaya Rajapaksa

See also

References
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