New CDS is responsible for all the armed forces and overall military strategy

The present army commander, Gen Sarath Fonseka - who was widely credited with winning the war against the Tamil Tiger militants - becomes the new CDS, with responsibility for all the armed forces and overall military strategy.

The powerful post was recently established by a parliamentary act after the defeat of the LTTE by Sri Lanka military.

Northern province governor

A less powerful similar position was held by Air Marshall Donald Perera until the new appointment.

Maj Gen Jagath Jayasuriya is appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new commander of the SLA.

	Karannagoda is new national security advisor to the president

Current SLA chief of staff, Maj Gen CA Chandrasiri on Sunday took oaths as the new governor of the Northern Province.

He replaces Dixon Dela, who was appointed as the High Commissioner to Maldives by the president.

Maj Gen Chandrasiri is also the Competent Authority for the Internally Displaced Persons in the North. It is not clear whether he still holds the post after the new appointment.

The president has also made changes to Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) hierarchy.

Serving SLN Commander, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda was appointed as National Security Advisor to the President; Rear Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe takes over as the new SLN chief.

The changes, were made, as he put it, to meet the needs of a post conflict situation, a military official said.

There were no new appointments announced in Sri Lanka Air Force.