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Last Updated : 2024-04-29 02:09:00
14 February 2024 06:03 am - 29 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Colombo, Feb 13 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka is in the process of downsizing the existing Sri Lanka Army cadre to 135,000 by the end of this year, and the number has already dropped to nearly 150,000 from the existing Sri Lanka Army cadre of 200,783, Daily Mirror learns.
Last year, State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon announced that Sri Lanka would cut the number of Army personnel by a third to 135,000 by this year and to 100,000 by 2030, as part of the government's efforts to overhaul its finances. He said that the aim of the move is to create a "technically and tactically sound and well-balanced" defence force by 2030.
In addition, Sri Lanka expects to maintain the number of Sri Lanka Air Force personnel and Sri Lanka Navy personnel at 35,000 each by 2030.
Sources said that the Sri Lanka Army has halted general recruitment and is recruiting only for essential units with approval from the Ministry of Defence. This has led to a reduction of around 35,000 Army personnel within a few months.
Meanwhile, Air Force Spokesperson Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe said that the current physical strength of the Sri Lanka Air Force is below 30,000.
"The Sri Lanka Air Force had around 35,000 personnel, and it has dropped to around 27,000 by now. We have recruited around 2,000 persons for several projects as volunteers, who were also among this figure. We have not totally stopped our recruitment but minimized it. Whenever we need recruitment to maintain our services, we make those recruitments under the approval of the MoD and the Treasury," he said.
Meanwhile, Navy Spokesman Capt. Gayan Wickramasinghe said that the Sri Lanka Navy's current physical strength is about 40,000.
"We continue our recruitment because without recruitment we can't operate. There is a difference between the retiring number and the recruitment number. The number will reduce according to that. We have plans on how we maintain our cadre, and our recruiting is done accordingly," he said.
Sri Lanka is a country that occasionally experiences strikes in several sectors, including health, electricity, and ports. The tri-forces have been deployed whenever there was a strike to ensure that those sectors operate smoothly in the country despite the strike.
In a recent incident, more than 1,000 soldiers have been deployed in state run hospitals to assist medical authorities to maintain services after health workers resumed a strike yesterday morning.
However, with discussions and plans in place to downsize the Sri Lanka military by 2030, authorities will not be able to deploy members of the tri-forces to engage in multitasking as they are busy with regular duties.
Seep up more Air,Land Wednesday, 14 February 2024 06:34 AM
As seen in Ukraine
Drone Battalion More Effective Wednesday, 14 February 2024 11:49 AM
A Drone Battalion with AI Technology should be set up with the downsizing. Ukraine
TAX PAYER Wednesday, 14 February 2024 07:31 AM
WE HAVE NO BORDERS, WE HAVE A BIG BROTHER. WE DO NOT NEED TO SPEND MUCH MONEY FOR SECURITY
Sanath Wednesday, 14 February 2024 11:13 AM
But we need to have a large force to protect of elected and unelected politicians.
lkboy Wednesday, 14 February 2024 12:19 PM
Very true. Downsizing should have started a decade ago.
Fact Wednesday, 14 February 2024 12:51 PM
yes ,We don’t need a big army ,navy or Airforce for a small borderless country . There will not be anyone coming to fight us from outside ,if they want to take over ,they can do so without a fight so no point of having a huge army. 10-15 thousand in each force will be more than enough .some of the well trained can be transferred to police and kick out inefficient lazy buggers with big bellies. We have to maintain the law and order and bring up disciplined communities .Look at Abu Dhabi ,Dubai and qatar no one dare to do any crime .These are safest places to live in the world .Even a women can walk the street alone in the midnight
Neomal Wednesday, 14 February 2024 08:50 AM
Good to know that genuine efforts are being made to bring down government expenses. The fact is that it is almost 15 years since the war ended, and the cadre needed to fight a war can no longer be justified.
Kumar Wednesday, 14 February 2024 09:00 AM
One day we have to fight the Indians for our survival .
BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 14 February 2024 10:16 AM
Or rather, the Indians will have to kick you guys because you are unable to survive on your own feet but only know to rob rob and rob the country dry.
Ram Wednesday, 14 February 2024 09:04 AM
Down sizing in numbers and giving a better deal for those in service must be the way to go.
Sokrates Wednesday, 14 February 2024 09:31 AM
The German army has 62,000 soldiers, the air force 28,000 and the navy 16,000 out of a population of 84 million. Many of these serve in other European countries and overseas. The EU country Romania has a population comparable to that of Sri Lanka and has a military strength of around 70,000 soldiers. Why does the Sri Lankan Armed Forces need a personnel strength of 135,000? Even 100,000 would still be too much.
Thushan Wednesday, 14 February 2024 12:36 PM
We are trending in the right direction. That's what really matters. Remember Germany is a part of NATO.
Idling forces with nothing to do Wednesday, 14 February 2024 10:11 AM
Before the civil war, Sri Lankan forces numbered only 20,000. We must get back to that number to save money.
BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 14 February 2024 10:23 AM
We need to be proud today to state that our Armed Forces has never in its life time fought against a foreign threat but has only been used by Politicians for thuggery, criminality and killing one's own citizens especially the youth under by using different labels such as sovereignty and terrorism. When one is not competent and dishonest to govern a country making correct decisions at the right moment in a transparent and balanced manner, the Armed Forces become the answer to all our problems. Today, each and every thuggery, killing, murder involves an armed forces person or entities connected to armed forces and politicians.
Gamini Wednesday, 14 February 2024 10:43 AM
who will do the cheap labour of painting govt. buildings
RoaringCreek Wednesday, 14 February 2024 10:44 AM
Ship then off the Ukraine and Russia and just forget the episode.
Lanka Wednesday, 14 February 2024 11:09 AM
Sri lanka should have done this 10/years ago. Use human resources of this in some thing else ? What can you do? Use them in construction industry or agricultural sector Or some thing else ?
Mahila Wednesday, 14 February 2024 02:44 PM
Expensive Option!!??
Zak Wednesday, 14 February 2024 11:19 AM
All tri-forces combined should be around 50,000 max. We can move the others to volunteer force. Who are we thinking of fighting against with a 200,000 triforce in 2030 ? Waste of public money.. currently there are 95,000 Samirdhi officers each getting paid Rs45,000. This is close to 40billion. Gov on the other hand is estimating to collect 120billion from PAYG tax. 1/3 will be paid to Samirdhi officers and remaining 2/3 not even enough to pay the Navy.. who are we kidding ?
Major S karunaratne Wednesday, 14 February 2024 04:01 PM
Good idea to have civilian reserve force. I would suggest compulsory forces service and training for all youth aged 17 -25. About 3 years should be in the services. There they will learn, discipline, conduct and be more focused when they come out. I see some badly behaved teenage overweight lumps walking about in SL. Mostly in colombo. Maybe MP baddayas in training.
Jacoob Good on you guys Wednesday, 14 February 2024 12:05 PM
Amazing to see that nobody has picked up Tiger factor and shits like what if another civil war erupts.. Good on you guys ..
Fact Wednesday, 14 February 2024 12:51 PM
We don’t need a big army ,navy or Airforce for a small borderless country . There will not be anyone coming to fight us from outside ,if they want to take over ,they can do so without a fight so no point of having a huge army. 10-15 thousand in each force will be more than enough .some of the well trained can be transferred to police and kick out inefficient lazy buggers with big bellies. We have to maintain the law and order and bring up disciplined communities .Look at Abu Dhabi ,Dubai and qatar no one dare to do any crime .These are safest places to live in the world .Even a women can walk the street alone in the midnight
NV Jen Wednesday, 14 February 2024 01:13 PM
A Step in the right direction. In my opinion ideal strength will be Army- 75,000., Navy and Airforce 15,000. each. Total of 105,000. Roughly it's 0.5% of the population. Police force need to be strengthened to improve the deteriorating law and order situation.
Wiraj Wednesday, 14 February 2024 01:16 PM
Timely move. Similarly reduce the excessive number of Public Servants, the number of MP's, number of Provincial and local councilors, to required levels. That too will save massive public expenditure.
ACA Wednesday, 14 February 2024 02:22 PM
We will have old guys army in the future ?
Karalasingam Sivalingam Wednesday, 14 February 2024 03:31 PM
Welcome move, reduce the numbers by 50%,, since we have no wars, nor terrorist existence, police numbers should be increased, to tackle, crime, stop narcotic trade etc
Buddhist Wednesday, 14 February 2024 04:02 PM
Why not reduce the number of ministers and state ministers?
Terrence K Wednesday, 14 February 2024 04:34 PM
We have to understand that these personnel are well trained and could be used for nefarious activities in crimes unless they are properly deployed for useful purposes. Planning for downsizing should have started immediately after the civil war far back as 2010. With many crimes occurring at frequent intervals the law enforcers at the top should track where they have been mobilized as there are many unscrupulous people who are kingpins in crime would definitely offer these people employment and handsomely reward them for the crimes perpetrated. With the country facing bankruptcy and many in want to meet their daily necessities the government should develop self development income generating ventures in every district and capitalize on the skills of these personnel otherwise this will be another Chicago reputed for Crimes!!!!!!!
VJ Wednesday, 14 February 2024 04:53 PM
A sensible move, it’s better late than never. In addition to savings, we can start to believe we are at peace when we have fewer uniformed men and women.
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