Defence Secretary Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne has been promoted to the rank of General by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Military Spokesman Chandana Wickramasinghe said. General Gunaratne assumed duties as the Secretary of Defence Ministry on November 20, 2019. He had served as the Deputy Ambassador in Brazil from 2012 to 2015. Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva was also promoted to the rank of General by the President today.