image source, Army.lk
The Sri Lankan government has decided to reduce the size of the army.
Minister of State for Defense Pramitha Bandara Thennakon has said that this decision has been reached considering the current situation in the country.
Currently 200,783 people are serving in the Sri Lanka Army.
In this case, he has decided to reduce the total strength of the army to 135,000 by 2024.
He also mentions that steps have been taken to reduce the total strength of the army to 100,000 by 2030.
The overall objective of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces Strategic Plan is to develop a strategically and technologically competent balanced army by 2030 to meet any security challenge in line with Sri Lanka’s national security interests.
What is the reason for downsizing the army?
Army media spokesperson Brigadier Ravi Herath told BBC Tamil that the army is planning to bring back the force to normal numbers as the war in Sri Lanka is over.
He also said that the government has the power to increase and decrease the number of army according to the situation of the country.
He also mentions that the size of the Sri Lankan Army is determined by considering the country’s situation.
He says that this is the law of the nations of the world.
After the end of the war, various development works were carried out by the Sri Lankan Army.
image source, Premitha Bandara Thennakoon’s FB
Similarly, during natural calamities, the involvement of the military is seen to be increasing.
Also, when the country faced the impact of the Covid virus, the army had made a huge contribution in the efforts to bring it under control.
Army personnel were involved in massive tasks like running quarantine centers, transporting Covid infected people and administering Covid vaccines.
In such a situation, at a time when Sri Lanka has experienced massive economic setbacks, various allegations have been made in the past that excessive funds are being allocated to the military.
In this situation, considering the current situation of the country, it has been decided to reduce the number of the army, the Ministry of Defense has quoted Minister of State for Defense Pramitha Bandara Thennakone in a press release.
BBC Tamil on Social Media: