Top Military Brass appointed to Task Force to build ‘a secure country, disciplined, virtuous and lawful society’

COLOMBO (News 1st): President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced his latest Presidential Task Force, this one headed by Defence Secretary Maj. Gen (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, tasked with creating a secure country and a disciplined, virtuous, and lawful society. Issuing a Presidential Directive yesterday (June 2, 2020) by way of a Gazette Extraordinaire, Secretary to the President P.B Jayasundara, also appointed Senior Asst. Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mr. D.M.S Dissanayake as Secretary of the said Task Force. The Task Force comprises of 10 high-level military personnel some retired and others in active service while the Acting IGP and two DIG’s make up the other three members. The Presidential Directive notes that the “most prominent responsibility of the government is to give priority to National Security and create a virtuous, disciplined and lawful society which respects the rule of law and justice as it has stated in the policy statement, Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour.” The Task Force has been directed by the President to “take necessary and immediate steps to curb illegal activities of social groups which are violating the law which is emerging as harmful to the free and peaceful existence of society at present in some places of the country.” It goes on to add that necessary measures for prevention from the drug menace should be taken while also directing “legal action against persons responsible for illegal and antisocial activities conducting in Sri Lanka while locating in other countries.” The members are as follows: 1. Major General (Retired) Kamal Gunaratne - Esquire Secretary to the Ministry of Defence 2. Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva - Esquire Commander of the Sri Lanka Army 3. Vice Admiral Piyal de Silva - Esquire Commander of Sri Lanka Navy 4. Air Marshal Sumangala Dias - Esquire Commander of Sri Lanka Air Force 5. Mr. C.D. Wickremarathne - Esquire Acting Inspector General of Police 6. Major General (Retired) Vijitha Ravipriya - Esquire Director General of Customs 7. Major General (Retired) Jagath Alwis - Esquire Chief of the National Intelligence Service 8. Major General Suresh Salley - Esquire Director of State Intelligence Service 9. Major General A. S. Hewavitharana - Esquire Director of Army Intelligence Unit 10. Captain S.J. Kumara - Esquire Director of Navy Intelligence Unit 11. Air Commodore M.D.J. Wasage - Esquire Director of Air Force Intelligence Unit 12. T. C. A. Dhanapala - Esquire Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Special Task Force of Police 13. Waruna Jayasundara - Deputy Inspector General of Police