Retired Navy officer Hemasiri Fernando has been appointed the new Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. 

Fernando replaces Kapila Waidyaratne, who held the position for just over a year. 

Fernando also holds two other high-profile government jobs as the Chief of Staff of the President and the Chairman of the Board of Investments. 

He was appointed the Chief of Staff to the President, when Dr. I.K. Mahanama was arrested by the Bribery Commission while accepting a bribe of Rs. 20 million.

He has also functioned as the Chairman of the National Olympic Committee.