Exclusive
by Our Defence Affairs Correspondent
Brigadier Deeptha Ariyasena has been appointed as the new head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), the intelligence arm of the Sri Lankan military. The appointment comes despite Brigadier Ariyasena not having a direct background in military intelligence, yet he brings with him a wealth of experience in leadership and strategic military operations.
Brigadier Ariyasena, who previously served as the Brigadier General Staff at the Security Forces Headquarters (East), is known for his transformative leadership in various roles within the Sri Lanka Army. With a long and distinguished career focused on operational command and staff duties, Ariyasena’s expertise in military management and coordination is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the critical intelligence function of the armed forces.
His appointment comes at a time when there have been several high-level transfers within Sri Lanka’s intelligence community. A number of senior intelligence officers have been moved to different postings, relinquishing their responsibilities in intelligence operations.
In his previous position as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 51 Division in Jaffna, Brigadier Ariyasena was credited with strengthening coordination between various military units and enhancing the welfare of local communities. These qualities are expected to play a significant role in his new intelligence role, where interagency collaboration and national security are key priorities.
The Directorate of Military Intelligence is crucial to Sri Lanka’s national security framework, responsible for overseeing intelligence gathering, analysis, and providing strategic insights to the government and armed forces.
