The Government over the last two months completely changed the leadership of the entire national intelligence community, with an abrupt dismissal of the head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) in early December, only to be replaced recently. The State Intelligence Service SIS (Civil), was also replaced, and last week the Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) stood down at the end of his tenure. All of the intelligence leadership, both Civil and Military have been replaced with fresh faces, leaving a vacuum of experienced intelligence practitioners to advise the Government, and to effectively identify, analyse and disseminate critical intelligence products to the correct State agencies, or foreign nations for action. There have been arguments to and against a complete revamp of the Intelligence community in Sri Lanka. However, it being done abruptly, may not be the wise approach.  Let us hope that the changes the Government has made, will serve the national interest well in this transitional period, where Sri Lanka finds herself vulnerable, economically, politically, and more importantly geopolitically. 

However, while the Government does have a mandate for radical change, the question must be asked, is outright radical change in all matters what is required? With General Shavendra Silva retiring as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) the question looms as to the Government’s plans for the long-standing office of Chief of Defence Staff. Some observers have been of the view that the current NPP Government, with its fresh mandate for ‘system change’ will scrap the office of the CDS. The question remains, is there a need for the position to be scrapped? Especially, as the three armed forces were on a trajectory of reforms (ones which were long needed) and was envisaged to be transformed into a more technically capable, streamlined force structure, where joint operational capacity was paramount, to get the most from the little, the state coffers were envisaged to met out as a defence budget by the 2030’s. Sri Lanka’s continued colossal defence expenditure has been a serious issue since the end of conflict in 2009, and the previous Government has planned a ‘Defence Review’ by 2030,to evolve the armed forces into a leaner and effective entity. Central to such an effort would have been a restructured Office of the Chief of Defence Staff (OCDS), that the review process continued to fulfilment. 

Sri Lankan is a small island nation, with a recovering economy, and does not have the capacity to hold large military formations which are culturally and operationally stuck in their own silos. As such, in terms of efficiency, cost effectiveness and overall resources utilisation, the need for some form of a joint-operational structure to make the three branches of the armed forces fall in line, and build synergy, is warranted. A restructured, and perhaps better empowered OCDS would have been one option to explore to ensure there was less wastage and better synergy. The CDS position, in foreign defence structures, where the post and office bears more responsibilities and is held accountable, has been a pivotal structure in helping armed forces evolve into what those nations’ want them to become. As such, Sri Lanka which is mid-step in defence reforms should, consider keeping a reformed version of the office, for the practical purpose that the three branches are in transition, and a singular control point is needed to monitor, troubleshoot and effect the changes the State wants from them. The Government would be wise, not to judge the position by the ‘last man’ who held the post or the history of those who have done so in the past. Sri Lanka, simply cannot afford to continue to let the three branches of the armed forces, namely the Army, Navy and Air Force, now also including the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, to remain in their silos and march to their own tunes, any longer. 

The CDS position can be traced back to the Joint Operations Command (JOC) which was established in late early 1985 had evolved through many iterations to the present day OCDS through various stages of the conflict and beyond. The Government would be prudent to study how global militaries have evolved, and take a few pages from the success stories of small nations, who have built and maintained robust militaries which work to advance national interest.