• State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon says cadre will be reduced to 135,000 by next year from present 200,783

In a bid to modernise the Army and create a well-balanced force to tackle present-day challenges, the Government has decided to bring down the number of Sri Lanka Army personnel on active duty to 135,000 by 2024.

State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said the Government is working on a blueprint which will help Sri Lanka Army become a technically and tactically sound force to deal with modern challenges.

He also noted that they expect the size of the Army to reduce to around 100,000 in 2030 to meet upcoming security challenges on a par with the National Security dimensions of the country.

The approved cadre of the Sri Lanka Army currently stands at 200,783.

The State Minister of Defence is of the view that authorities will be able to pump ample resources when the country has a manageable Army unit.

“The strength of the military and sustainable economic development are two sides of a coin, which stay together, but never talk to each other in open. Military spending is the State-borne expenditure, which indirectly stimulates and opens avenues for economic growth by way of assuring national and human security,” a statement issued by the Ministry noted yesterday.

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