Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne has endorsed the certificate on legislation repealing Sri Lanka's Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009.
Following certification, the legislation comes into force as the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Act No. 22 of 2026.
The development completes the parliamentary certification stage of legislation abolishing the statutory framework that created the office of the Chief of Defence Staff.
### Parliamentary process
The repeal Bill was presented to Parliament for its First Reading on August 4, 2026.
Its Second Reading debate was held on September 9, after which Parliament passed the Bill without a division.
The Speaker endorsed the certificate on September 22.
### Existing CDS law repealed
The 2009 Chief of Defence Staff Act established the office of the Chief of Defence Staff and provided for functions including coordination between the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence.
Parliament says that with repeal of that Act, the statutory office of the Chief of Defence Staff will cease to exist.
### Property transferred to Defence Ministry
The repeal legislation also provides that, upon commencement, movable and immovable property belonging to the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff will be transferred to the Ministry of Defence.
### Institutional transition
The repeal represents a significant change to Sri Lanka's statutory defence-command structure.
However, the article should not speculate about operational military-command arrangements, personnel appointments or functions that may be reassigned unless those arrangements are separately confirmed through the Act or official Government/Defence documentation.
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