Kottegoda new Defence Secretary

Former Army Commander Gen S. H. S Kottegoda (Rtd) has been appointed as the new Secretary of Defence. 

He received his letter of appointment from President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

General Shantha Kottegoda, WWV, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP (born 6 November 1949) was a Sri Lankan Army officer and the 17th Commander of the Sri Lankan Army from 1 July 2004 to 5 December 2005. He was the former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Brazil and Thailand.

Shantha Kottegoda has served the Sri Lankan Army for 29 years throughout the island. He has been involved in both the 1971 and 1987-’89 JVP insurrection as well as the Sri Lankan Civil War, participating in major operations against the LTTE in the north and east of the country. 

Kottegoda has held numerous positions in the Army, among them he was Colonel of the Regiment of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry, General officer Commanding Division in Jaffna, General officer Commanding 51 Division in Vavuniya. He has been Director of Training, Director Military Intelligence and at present he is Director General, Training at Army Headquarters.