By Gagani Weerakoon in Ceylon Today, Nov 4.2023
Higher echelons of the Government have issued directives to the committee, appointed to prepare a strategic plan for country’s national security, to submit their preliminary report to President Ranil Wickremesinghe within six months.
Chief of Staff and Adviser on National Security Sagala Ratnayake has said instructions were given to prepare a strategic plan for the security of the country’s land and ocean, which should be given at the earliest possible instance, when the committee met at the Security Review Committee meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat.
President Wickremesinghe appointed the committee, headed by retired Major General Channa Gunathilaka, subject to the approval of the Cabinet, entrusting the responsibility of recommending measures to be taken to ensure the future security of the country.
The committee consists of six members including three retired military top brass as well as advisers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Reforms.
President Wickremesinghe has emphasised the critical need for a comprehensive review of the country’s national security strategy.
This review will encompass a broad range of factors, including emerging economic trends and the impacts of climate change.
To facilitate this review, the committee comprising a specialised team was appointed in August. The team’s mandate is to thoroughly assess the nation’s security landscape and propose modern security policies for the National Security Council.
The President has also handed over, to this committee, the preparation of a strategic plan targeting 2030 regarding the measures to be taken regarding the security of the country and the security of the ocean and the development of intelligence agencies.
Ratnayake joined the first meeting of the committee and gave instructions to give a report within six months on how to fulfil the duties assigned by the President. https://ceylontoday.lk/2023/11/04/strategic-plan-for-national-security-in-six-months/
