Defence Ministry Holds Series of High-Level Discussions on Several Key Issues

Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) and Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) jointly chaired a series of high-level meetings at the Deputy Minister's office in Colombo, yesterday (28 October).

The initial discussion focused on issues related to Widows and Orphans Pensions (W&OP) for veterans and war heroes. Officials from the Department of Pensions and relevant ministries reviewed ongoing administrative challenges and explored measures to streamline application and approval processes to ensure the timely delivery of benefits.

The Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of a compassionate approach to supporting families of fallen heroes, while the Defence Secretary underscored the need for strengthened inter-agency coordination to eliminate procedural delays. The session concluded with directives to implement a time-bound action plan aimed at ensuring fair, efficient, and sustainable pension management.

Subsequently, a following discussion was convened to explore the possibility of assigning highway security operations to Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Limited (RALL). The discussion centered on evaluating the existing security framework and assessing how RALL's operational expertise could enhance the overall safety and efficiency of the country's highway network.

In another discussion, the Deputy Minister chaired a meeting on the proposals by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to address the institution's budgetary constraints. The attendees explored practical measures to use resources more efficiently and ensure proper budget allocation to support the MOD's key operational and strategic goals.

These back-to-back meetings reflect the Ministry's proactive approach in strengthening administrative efficiency, enhancing national security operations, and ensuring the welfare of the defence community through well-coordinated policy and management initiatives in compliance with transparency and accountability requirements.