New Secretary Defence assumes duties

Major General A. K Jayawardhana (Retd) RWP RSP USP rcds psc who hitherto held the office of the Governor for North & East, was appointed the new Defence Secretary, Ministry of Defence with effect from 01st December 2004 after retirement of Mr. Cyril Herath.

Subsequent to his arrival at his office in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) this morning, Major General A. K. Jayawardhana was welcomed by senior officials in MOD and conducted him to light the traditional oil lamp, an age-old symbolic gesture that is generally observed before commencement of any auspicious work.

Marking the symbolic assumption of duties, Major General Jayawardhana then went on to initial the first official document while outgoing Defence Secretary Mr Cyril Herath and senior officials looked on.

Minutes after that, the new Secretary Defence accompanied by his predecessor paid a courtesy call on Minister of Buddha Sasana, Public Security and Law and Order and Deputy Minister of Defence Mr Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. After extending best wishes on the new appointment, Minister Wickremanayake shared a couple of thoughts and matters of national importance.

Later on, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, Commander of the Army Lt. General S. H. S Kottegoda, Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshal Donald Perera and Inspector General of Police, Mr Chandra Fernando greeted the new Defence Secretary and bade farewell to the outgoing Secretary Defence. All three service chiefs and the IGP who paid courtesy calls on the new Secretary, presented mementoes to both Mr. Cyril Herath and Major General A. K Jayawardhana as tokens of the occasion.

Major General Asoka Jayawardhana of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry retired from the Army on 12.11.1998 while he was simultaneously holding the office of Deputy Chief of Staff in the Army, Inspector of Infantry as well as Commander Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna. Major General A. K Jayawardhana was the Overall Colombo Command from 23.02.1998 to 15.04.1998. During the period (01.11.1997 - 06.09.1998) he functioned as Commandant Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force. He has also worked as Colonel of the Regiment Sri Lanka Light Infantry from 20.01.1997 to 06.09.1998. To his credit during a span of one year he also served as Overall Operations Commander under Joint Operation Headquarters from 01.11.1996 to 01.11.1997. Major General A. K Jayawardhana was the Coordinator - in Chief - Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu from 01.02.1996 to 01.05.1996. He also served as Director General General Staff at the Army Headquarters between 01.05.1996 and 30.10.1996. He also function as Operation Commander Vavuniya/Mannar between 31.01.1996 and 01.05.1996. Prior to this, he worked as General Officer Commanding Task Force 2 after he was promoted to Major General rank on 01.12.1994. Major General A. K Jayawardhana followed a course on Defence Studies at Royal College UK. He was also the Co-ordinator in Chief in Jaffna towards the latter part of 1994.

Major General A. K Jayawardhana was appointed Governor for North and East soon after his retirement.