• Internal and external separatist, extremist ideologies pose a threat
• Trafficking in IOR – human, arms, narcotics key concerns
• Defence policy being drafted; whitepaper expected
• Armed forces should be technologically advanced and well-equipped 
• Military should return to conventional role, not be abused for other services
• SL looking at British, Singaporean, Indian models for future transition
• Right-sizing may not automatically mean less defence expenditure
• Strategy being developed for peacekeeping missions

The Government’s defence reforms process aims to ‘right-size’ the military in line with a new national security and defence policy which is being drafted, State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Thennakoon told The Sunday Morning.

According to Minister Thennakoon, while the Government does plan to reduce troop numbers, the process may not necessarily reduce overall defence expenditure, as the State plans to upgrade the military to become a more agile and technologically proficient force. 

The State Minister stated that separatist sentiments and extremist ideologies and cybercrime coupled with trafficking of persons, arms, and narcotics in the Indian Ocean were key security concerns for Sri Lanka in the short term.

Thennakoon argues that high defence expenditure needs to be understood in the context of the wide scope entrusted to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). In an interview with The Sunday Morning, he said that criticism of the education standards of the rank and file recruited to the armed forces was unwarranted and called for their service to be acknowledged.

Following are excerpts from the interview:

What are Sri Lanka’s key national security concerns in the short term?

National security is connected to energy security, food security, rule of law, how we respond to natural disasters, etc. At present, the Government’s focus is on reviving our economy. 

I think in securing an International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement for assistance, the President and the Government have achieved a great feat. Now that the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) is in effect, our food security and energy security will improve. There are no power cuts and food shortages; such matters are being addressed.

Nevertheless, Sri Lanka cannot lower its guard; we need to be prepared to face any eventuality. I believe that we have seen the last days of war, I pray we never have to witness such again.

The separatist and extremist sentiments and ideologies which are present both locally and externally are a significant security concern for Sri Lanka. We are working with global partners – our intelligence agencies are working overtime to make sure that the danger posed by such ideologies does not manifest into active threats. 

Our security apparatus works hard to stop those who try to disrupt domestic stability and the day-to-day life of our citizens. We work hard to ensure that whatever they (extremists, separatists, and disruptors) are planning to do to our country is unsuccessful.

Further, we have to focus on other non-traditional threats as well. We are working to address trafficking, both human, arms, and narcotics in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The IOR has become a transit area for trafficking and our efforts include trying to address such threats as well. There is an increasing cybercrime and cyber security concern that also needs to be addressed.

What kind of defence reforms is the Government planning to enact? When will they be in effect?

The ‘2030 Defence Review’ is underway; there have been several drafts of a Defence Policy that is being discussed. The defence establishment is also working on a whitepaper. Meanwhile, the respective armed forces have developed their own doctrines. I cannot go into details about the policies and strategies.

It has been more than a decade since the end of the war. A committee has been appointed to look into ‘rightsizing’ the military. Some people have spoken about downsizing, but what is needed is rightsizing. As I said before, Sri Lanka can’t afford to let its guard down.

By 2030, we want to right-size the Army to about 100,000 personnel. However, while doing so, we need to make them a technologically well-equipped and capable force. When your numbers are smaller, you have to be more proficient and technically capable to remain effective. For example, the British Army is about 60,000 strong, but it is well-equipped and technologically advanced.

My view is that our armed forces should get back to their conventional role. We have many development sites which are run by the military. These include places of worship – temples, churches, kovils, etc. My view is that when the armed forces are right-sized, they should transition back to their traditional role and not continue with such large-scale development duties. The military should help with some social service, but it should not be abused or distracted from its primary role.

Recently, I received a request from the Youth Services Council to aid it in carrying 1,000 kg of goods to Sri Pada Mountain. Now, it was the Youth Services Council that was asking for this; if it can’t plan and carry that out, where are we going with that organisation? I don’t want anyone to abuse the service rendered to the nation by our service personnel, so I politely refused the request.  

Will the Government develop a new National Security Policy and a related defence strategy?  

That is where we are heading. Sri Lanka is looking ahead to the next 25 years. Even at the 75th Independence Day, the President said we should plan for the 100th anniversary, so yes, based on the review, a new National Security Policy will be developed. Not only national security, even for other areas like foreign policy, education, food security, etc., new policies will be drafted.

In formulating new policies and strategies, is Sri Lanka looking at foreign examples or seeking assistance to draft our own?

Of course, we understand that there are good models which we can learn from. We are looking at the British model (security/defence) and we are also looking at how Singapore has approached the matter and their policies, being a small littoral state. We are also looking at our neighbour India, at how they run their security policy. There are good legal documents and acts which are progressive that we are studying.

One other progressive measure we are looking at is allowing female officers who currently only serve 15 years in the armed forces to continue, if they would like to. At present, we have female officers who retire after 15 years of service, not remaining until 55 years of age. In the future, we will have female major generals, rear admirals, and air vice marshals in our forces. For the troops as well, if women troops wish to continue until 22 years of service, like their male counterparts, they can do so.

Over the past decade, there has been much criticism about high defence expenditure and questions as to why Sri Lanka continues to maintain a large military. Will the current reforms process see a significant reduction in defence expenditure in the future?

We saw criticism about the Rs. 400 billion defence allocation in the last Budget. However, when you look at the MoD allocation, you will see the MoD has a wide scope. Under the MoD, we have 26 institutions. There are the armed forces and the Office of the Chief of Defence (CDS) Staff. We have the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) and the KDU Hospital that treats people. 

There is the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), the Department of Meteorology, and the Disaster Management Centre that coordinates the national disaster response, which works 24/7. There are scientific research organisations under the MoD and many other organisations as well. This Rs. 400 billion didn’t go entirely to our armed forces, so that perception is wrong.

Further, just because we right-size our troop numbers, it may not cut down our military expenditure. Sri Lankans need to understand that our island is in a strategic location – we are surrounded by key shipping lanes. We have non-traditional threats we need to address, we can’t let our guard down. These measures won’t be cheap; we can’t do it cheaply either. Like I said before, we have to build a technologically well-equipped and skilled force and that will cost money, whoever is in power.

The public needs to understand that in order to have economic stability and prosperity, you must ensure national security and rule of law – those two things go hand in hand. If national security is not upheld, there will be no economic stability. 

Further, the armed forces have made great sacrifices to bring us a peaceful environment and such sacrifices cannot simply be forgotten. The criticism about the education standards of other ranks that have been recruited is unwarranted and unfair. The military is a unique university in its own right; it moulds skilled, capable, and competent personnel. Let’s give them the respect they deserve.

Being an island nation, we will in the future have to focus on the development of the Navy and the Air Force. We are cognisant of our threats; the IOR is a trafficking hotspot and has become an active zone for geopolitics. We don’t want the IOR to become a region of conflict or war. We want the IOR to be a region of peace and stability. This will enable Sri Lanka to be economically stable as well.

Will Sri Lanka eventually have a national security whitepaper, like many nations do, that is accessible to the public and foreign countries, to better understand our interests?

Yes, we will have a defence whitepaper. Further, we are reviewing our port call and transit Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) – a new one is being formulated. This applies to all foreign ships and aircraft that plan to call on our ports or travel through our waters and airspace. As per our foreign policy, we are friends with everyone and enemies of none. We want to maintain that foreign policy.

Is the Government looking at streamlining cross-services cooperation and interoperability between the three armed forces, like many countries have done? CDS Gen. Silva in Mullaitivu mentioned this to the troops stationed there recently.

Yes, we are. We are looking at the British and Singaporean models. We are studying how the model works and how we can tailor it to our needs. Our armed forces coordinate well, but there is room to streamline and improve. This is also being studied as part of the review process.

Many countries, including India, Pakistan, Australia, Japan, and the US are keen to partner with the Sri Lankan armed forces to improve training and interoperability. Does Sri Lanka have a plan or strategy on partnering with such nations?

We have long-standing defence exercises that we have with many countries. In the ‘Defence 2030’ review, we will also review all those aspects. That is my understanding. We have the traditional military exercises, we will maintain them. The last few years with Covid and the crisis have been difficult for military engagements, but we will return to normal momentum soon.  

Does Sri Lanka have a strategy for sending Lankan service personnel for peacekeeping missions? Are we doing enough to sustain them?

Yes, we are planning to develop a strategy. Peacekeeping is an area we are keen on. In the last two years, due to multiple crises, we missed out on some UN missions, but now I think we are back on track. We will be looking to send some of our troops for new missions. 

Peacekeeping engagement will help keep our military sharp and ready, it improves professionalism. It will also help gain Sri Lanka recognition in the international arena.

Does the Government have a plan to ensure the forces who leave the service are sufficiently skilled to find employment in the civil sector? Are you looking for overseas employment options for them?

We have estimated the natural depreciation of the force numbers for our resizing. We are not kicking anyone out. That perception is wrong. We are not recruiting for the time being to fill some of the vacancies, but we will recommence recruitment under the new policies soon.

We have to give those who leave the services an opportunity and a helping hand to be entrepreneurs, inventors, to enter the service industry or the export industry. We are looking at the US system on veterans’ affairs as a possible model for a veterans’ affairs department for Sri Lanka.