News
CDRD presents an array of inventions to the state-run systems
An array of innovative products produced by the Centre for Defence Research and Development (CDRD) was handed over to the Military and respective State Departments under the direction of Defence Secretary and National Security and Disaster Management State Ministry Secretary Gen. (retd.) Kamal Gunaratne at the CDRD Head Office in Pitipana on Nov 8.
Among the items, Digital Mobile Radio, GPS Tracking Device for Special Operations, Smart Target System for Jungle Lane Firing, BTR – BDA Armoured Personnel Carrier Simulator, 81 mm Mortar Simulator, B-Vehicle Simulator and High-Tech Soldier Project were the innovations handed over to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).
Army Commander General Shavendra Silva officially received those projects from the day’s Chief Guest Gen. Gunaratne. Meanwhile, Ten Digital Mobile Radio units each were handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) during the session.
Electronic Prosthetic Limb was handed over to Private D.W.M.K. Fernando of the Ranaviru Sevana of SLA and the Department of Wildlife Conservation received the Handheld Device to Repel Wild Elephants which was developed under the project to thwart wild elephant intrusions and attacks.
During the session, National Cadet Corps (NCC) received an Officers’ Database for NCC use.
The Document Management System, Land Acquisition and Management System, Mobile Phone and Drone Jammers were also showcased under the programme.
The respective CDRD sectional heads briefed the Secretary on its progress, discoveries and its future plans following the main function.
CDRD is an institution functioning under the purview of State Ministry of National Security and Disaster Management headed by CDRD’s Director General Maj. Gen. (retd) Renuka Rowel which is pioneering in providing much-needed cost effective innovative solutions to the country.
The country’s premier research arm, CDRD is a brainchild of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa when he was the Defence and Urban Development Secretary.
The CDRD was created with a vision to establish a world-class science and technology base providing the military a decisive edge, by equipping them with internationally competitive systems and solutions.
CDRD is now focusing on developing and delivering the ground-breaking defence related products to meet future needs.
During the session, CDRD’s Director General presented a memento to the Defence Secretary to mark the special occasion.
Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva, SLN Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Y.N. Jayarathne, SLAF Chief of Staff Air Vice Marshal Prasanna Payoe, officers of the Defence Ministry, Department of Wildlife Conservation, NCC and State Ministry of National Security and Disaster Management were also present.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
News
Cabinet nod to legally empower methodology for implementing the ‘Praja Shakthi’ poverty alleviation national movement
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft a bill to legally empower the implementation of ‘Praja Shakthi’ (Strength of the Community) poverty alleviation national movement
…preliminary work started on new Constitution
JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva yesterday (17) maintained that the NPP government was not under Indian pressure to hold the long delayed Provincial Council elections.
The top JVP official said so appearing on Sirasa Pathikada, anchored by Asoka Dias. Tilvin Silva said that neither the devolution nor terrorism issues had been discussed during his meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor, in New Delhi. This was Tilvin Silva’s first visit to India.
Declaring that politics hadn’t been on the agenda, the JVPer said that the Indian focus was entirely on economic development and technology.
The JVP General Secretary visited India under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ (ICCR) Distinguished Visitors Programme from 5-12 February 2026. General Secretary Silva was accompanied by Kitnan Selvaraj, MP, Ilankumaran Karunanathan, MP, JVP Central Committee Member Janaka Adhikari, JVP’s Media Unit Head Hemathilaka Gamage and Member of JVP’s International Relations Department Kalpana Madhubhashini. The delegation visited New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthapuram.
Responding to another query, Tilvin Silva said that Dr. S. Jaishankar had reiterated that India would always remain a true and trusted partner for Sri Lanka, in accordance with its ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and Vision ‘MAHASAGAR.’
Referring to the second JVP insurrection in the late 1980s, the JVPer claimed that they had not been against India but responded to the actions of the then Indian government.
Sri Lanka enacted the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in the wake of the Indo-Lanka peace accord of July 1987 to pave the way for Provincial Councils.
Tilvin Silva said that since they came to power, Indo-Sri Lanka relations had changed. “India has realised we could work together,” he said.
The JVP official said that preliminary work was underway, regarding the formulation of a new Constitution. The abolition of executive presidency and creation of an Office of President sans executive powers, too, would be addressed, he said, adding that the strengthening of the legislature was the other issue at hand.
Pointing out that the NPP had 2/3 majority in Parliament and could introduce a new Constitution on their own, Tilvin Silva said that they intended to obtain views of all and study the past processes in a bid to secure consensus. The JVP, as the party that campaigned against the introduction of executive presidency, way back in 1978, would lead the current effort to do away with the existing Constitution, he said.
Tilvin promised that they would implement what was in their manifesto.
The interviewer also raised the issue of abolishing the pensions for ex-Presidents. Tilvin Silva said that the Supreme Court, too, had approved the move to abolish pensions to ex-MPs. Therefore there was no issue with that, however, the ex-Presidents pensions couldn’t be done away with as they were made through the Constitution. That would be addressed when the government introduced a new Constitution in consultation with other stakeholders.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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