President Mahinda Rajapaksa made several appointments to key positions in the Armed Services yesterday, when a new Chief of Defence Staff and new Commanders for the Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Navy were appointed.

Yesterday's appointments saw a new positions of National Security Advisor to the President and the swear in of a new Governor for the Northern Province.

The present Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka was yesterday appointed as the new Chief of Defence Staff by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Janadhipathi Mandiraya yesterday (July 12).

This appointment, effective July 15, 2009, is made in accordance with the powers vested in the President by the Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009.

Consequent to this appointment, Major General Jagath Jayasuriya was appointed as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, effective July 15, 2009.

The present Commander of the Navy Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda was appointed as the National Security Advisor to the President, from July 15, 2009.

The present Chief of Navy Staff Rear Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe has accordingly been appointed as Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, effective July 15, 2009.

The current Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and Competent Authority for the Internally Displaced Persons in the North, Major General G. A. Chandrasiri took his oaths as the new Governor for the Northern Province yesterday - July 12, 2009.

Accordingly, Mr. Dixon Dela who was Governor of the Northern Province was appointed as the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the Maldives, effective yesterday - July 12, 2009.