President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that by 2030, the Army will be reduced to 100,000 personnel, the Navy to 40,000, and the Air Force to 18,000, as part of a broader effort to modernize Sri Lanka’s defence forces.
“The size will be reduced, but the forces will become more technically advanced. We are committed to this transformation,” he said, addressing Parliament.
He highlighted the aging military equipment, noting that many aircraft and weapons are nearing expiration.
“Navy personnel have told me that they need special training to operate some vessels, in addition to the standard training. The vessels are that old and decayed. We wish to transform our security personnel into professionals who are loyal to the nation, not towards individuals,” the President said.
He added that these decisions were made after careful deliberation and criticized the practice of granting service extensions to military leaders.
He also noted that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) role has often been given to subordinates or loyalists, making it ineffective. (Newswire)
