Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne endorsed the certificate on the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Bill on 22nd September.
The Bill was presented to Parliament for its First Reading on 4th August 2026. The debate on the Second Reading of the Bill was held on 9th September 2026, following which it was passed without a division.
The Bill was introduced to repeal the Chief of Defence Staff Act, No. 35 of 2009, which established the office of the Chief of Defence Staff. The Act enacted in 2009 established the office of the Chief of Defence Staff to carry out functions including the coordination of activities between the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence, in accordance with prevailing requirements.
Accordingly, with the repeal of the Chief of Defence Staff Act, No. 35 of 2009, under this Bill, the office of the Chief of Defence Staff will also cease to exist. Furthermore, upon the commencement of this Act, all movable and immovable property belonging to the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff will be transferred to the Ministry of Defence. Accordingly, the aforesaid Bill comes into force as the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Act, No. 22 of 2026.
