Powers of the Defence Ministry currently remain under President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing, Gunawardena said the powers of the Defence Ministry have been vested with the President.

However, no Cabinet Minister of Defence has been formally appointed by the President. Chamal Rajapaksa, a brother of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, functions as the State Minister of Defence. According to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, the President is not allowed to hold any ministerial portfolio.

"There will not be any issue about the national security as the Defence Ministry Secretary, a former senior military officer, is well-versed with the subject," Gunawardena explained.