by Nishith Agarwal
Brief History
The strongest and oldest arm of the Sri Lankan military is their Army, founded as Ceylon Army on 10th Oct 1949, rechristened as Sri Lanka Army in 1972 once Sri Lanka became a republic.
Being an island nation, Sri Lanka Navy assumes the role of primary defence force. The position of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean also makes it geopolitically significant with many Sea Lines of Communication and trade routes in its AoR. Royal Ceylon Navy was established in 1950, subsequently rechristened as Sri Lanka Navy in 1972.
Sri Lanka Air Force is the newest arm, created on 02 Mar 1951, with the support of Royal Air Force. Initially it was named as Royal Ceylon Air Force. (History of the Sri Lankan Military, 2023).
Current Military strength
The Sri Lanka Army has about 1,80,000 regular staff, about 30,000 reserve staff, and 18,000 members of the National Guard (All That you need to know about Sri Lanka Armed Forces, 2023). The Sri Lanka Army has 13 operational sections, including air-mobile brigade, commando brigade, special forces brigade, multiple armoured infantry brigades, and more than 40 infantry brigades.
The Sri Lanka Navy consists of 55,000 personnel. Due to its significance Sri Lanka Navy has undertaken many operations in open seas to prevent illegal weapon exports. Navy’s Special Boat Unit is a unique Special Forces Unit. Sri Lanka Navy consists of seven Area Naval Commands. It consists of several units like Fast Gunboats Squadron, Fast attack Flotilla, Special Boat Squadron, Rapid Action Boat Squadron Marine corps etc. Sri Lanka Navy is assisted by Sri Lanka Coast Guard, being their primary marine federal agency. It is responsible for maintaining the safety of marine, coastal, territorial, and rough seas. Its tasks also include maintaining Sri Lanka’s national defence, country’s economy, and territorial integrity. Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has an operational strength of 35,000 personnel, with more than 160 aircraft. It is divided into four Zonal Commands comprising of a total of 15 Air Force stations throughout the island.
The Sri Lanka Air Force comprises of 13 flying squadrons, equipped with Chengdu F-7, IAI Kfir, Harbin Y- 12, Dornier 228, An-32, C-130, Mi-17, Mi-24, etc
Current Training Status
In 1949 once the Sri Lanka Army was conceptualised, training centre was established in Diyatalawa, in Badulla district, named as Army Recruit Training Depot.
Subsequently, following training centres were established throughout the country:
- Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA)
- Officer Career Development Centre (OCDC)
- Army School of Logistics (ASL)
- Army Training School (ATS)
- Volunteer Force Training School (VFTS)
- Combat Training School (CTS)
- Infantry Training Centre (ITC)
- Army Physical Education Centre (APEC)
- Marksman Sniper Training School (MSTS)
- Centre for Army Vocational Training (CAVT)
- Institute of Peacekeeping Support Operations Training Sri Lanka (IPSOT-SL)
Besides these specialised training centres, there are several other training centres imparting training in Artillery, Air mobility, special forces, commando training, military intelligence, engineer services, jungle warfare, etc. (Annual Performance Report 2023, 2023).
Sri Lanka Navy conducted naval training at Royal Naval Dockyard, Trincomalee in 1950s. The officer training and specialist training was conducted in various colleges at United Kingdom. Later the following main training centres were established for conduct of all training:
- Naval & Maritime Academy-SLN Dockyard
- Advanced Naval Training Centre-SLNS Nipuna
- Naval Artificer Training Institute-SLNS Thakshila
- Naval Recruit Training Centre-SLNS Shiksha
- Combat Training School/ Naval Recruit Training Centre-SLNS Pandukabhaya
The ‘Proposal for Sri Lanka Navy’s Strategy 2030 and Beyond’ (NAVSTRAT-2030), is a comprehensive framework designed to address evolving maritime challenges while optimizing resources for national security (Proposal for Sri Lanka Navy’s Strategy 2030 & Beyond (NAVSTRAT-2030), 2024). A central focus is placed on building naval capability through investments in the much-valued human resources, modern assets, infrastructure and fostering innovation. The rightsizing of the navy involves a comprehensive review of assets, personnel, infrastructure and optimizing resources to meet operational requirements along with other stakeholders involved in protecting the national security.
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) was initially called as Royal Ceylon Air Force and their pilots underwent training at Royal Air Force station Negombo. Later following training establishments have been set up in Sri Lanka:
- Air Force Academy- SLAF China Bay
- Advanced and Specialised Trade Training School-SLAF Ekala
- SLAF Junior Command & Staff College- SLAF China Bay
- Combat Training School-SLAF China Bay
- Gunner Training School-SLAF China Bay
- Basic Trade Training School-SLAF Katunayake
- Training Wing-SLAF Diyatalawa-Ground Combat Recruit Course
- NCO Management School-SLAF China Bay
- Regimental Training Centre-SLAF Ampara combat & EOD
As is obvious from above, currently Sri Lanka is the primary training base for armed forces. Additionally, countries like Israel, USA, South Africa, China, Australia, Pakistan, India, and UK provide training facilities and equipment to the Sri Lankan armed forces. US programs like International Military Education and Training (IMET) or Foreign Military Financing (FMF) have contributed a significant amount to the reach and preparedness of Sri Lanka armed forces.
Analysis & Future Trends
Military Modernisation & Training
Sri Lanka’s 2025 budget has allocated a staggering LKR 437 billion to defence spending – an increase of LKR 12 billion from the 2024 revised estimates, despite the island’s ongoing economic struggles (Sri Lanka’s 2025 Budget: Increased military spending amid economic challenges, 2025). The increased military budget raises serious concerns about the government’s fiscal priorities, especially as social welfare funding has been slashed by LKR 35 billion, leaving only LKR 43 billion allocated for crucial public assistance programmes.
While the Sri Lankan Army has been allocated $761 million, the Sri Lanka Navy and the Air Force will receive $313 million and $244 million, respectively. These represent an increase of 3 percent, 12 percent, and 4 percent over last year, respectively (Kuruwita, 2025). Although there is an increase in defence allocation, there are also indications that the government is planning to reduce the strength of all three forces. However, the increased allocation will be dedicated towards modern and technologically advanced weapons, also mandating higher training costs. There will be a very high thrust on Navy modernisation, keeping its importance in mind. There are also indications that the government is hiking the salaries of defence forces to attract talented youth, capable of handling technologically advanced weapon systems. This would entail higher shares for hardware procurement and personnel training as well.
It is evident that the government has prioritised the growth and modernisation of armed forces over social growth. This is also significant since the armed forces played an important role in curbing the internal conflicts and uprisings. The special forces units have been suppressing public protests and conducted many so-called anti-terrorism search operations in civilian areas. In December 2016, navy personnel, led by then Navy Commander Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, were used to crush strike action by Hambantota Port workers (Samarasinghe, 2020). The government cannot afford to dissatisfy the armed forces, specially so when they cannot keep up to the expectations of the public. Government would remain focussed towards modernisation, training, and preparedness of the armed forces.
Another important aspect under consideration is the mental health status of the Sri Lanka Armed forces personnel since they were engaged in a prolonged armed conflict till end of 2009. The Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air force were involved in the battle throughout this period, leading to numerous war casualties. Despite the fact that more than ten years has elapsed since the termination of the civil war, there has been scarce scientific evidence in relation to mental health issues among military personnel in Sri Lanka. A descriptive study carried out among Sri Lankan Army personnel revealed that the prevalence of PTSD was 1.9% and 2.9% in the Special Forces and Regular Forces respectively (Anushka Chamod Pathirana, 2023). Furthermore, the study reported that hazardous drinking was the commonest mental health problem among the Special Forces (17%) while, poor general health (21.1%) and fatigue (18.4%) were the commonest health problems among the Regular Forces. The study further revealed that exposure to traumatic events and family life problems were identified as risk factors.
Geopolitical Considerations
While the Sri Lankan security forces may have a vision of ideal troop/aircraft/vessel composition, ultimately all these are subjected to politics. A state, especially a small island nation like Sri Lanka, cannot purchase equipment based on purely financial or operational factors. Geopolitical considerations play a big role in defence procurement. For example, most countries would only sell weapons to nations they see as allies and states procure weapon systems, for the most part, to demonstrate their allegiance to the manufacturing nation.
Geopolitics plays a very big role in arms industry and when it comes to South Asia, it assumes even greater proportions, due to interests of various nations like US, China, India, etc. There will be a tough competition when it comes to supplying weapons and providing training to Sri Lankan armed forces to keep their stronghold on the island nation. The defence purchases that Sri Lanka makes will be intertwined with geopolitical considerations, especially given that India fears that the NPP is ideologically pro-Chinese. The selection of partners for weapons and training will be a significant strategic decision for the NPP government.
Geopolitically, Sri Lanka is very important for the safety of Sea Lines of Communication across Indian Ocean. China considers Sri Lanka essential to keep a check on Indian growth and influence in the Indian Ocean region. China had already indicated their interests in the countries surrounding India, their String of Pearls was designed to establish their military presence all around India. Additionally, their presence in Sri Lanka to carry out surveillance onto US bases in Indian Ocean. Chinese research vessels have often been sighted docked in Sri Lankan ports, a cause of concern for both India and the US.
The US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), which is the largest concentration of US military forces, has increased its involvement of Sri Lankan military forces in Indian Ocean regional operations. Sri Lanka’s strategic location, just north of China’s critical naval trade routes, makes it indispensable to Washington’s war preparations against China. In 2017, Colombo renewed the ACSA and began a process of renewing the existing Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the US, providing much broader access and movement for US forces on Sri Lankan soil. In early 2019, the US 7th Fleet aircraft carrier, USS John C. Stennis, visited Trincomalee port, initiating moves to establish a US Navy Logistics Hub in Sri Lanka. Washington will even more aggressively seek integration of its Indian Ocean allies into military operations against Beijing, including through US military encampment in smaller nations, such as Sri Lanka. Full combat training for Sri Lankan naval elite forces is another indication that Washington’s preparations for war against China are extremely advanced.
Bibliography:
(2023) All That you need to know about Sri Lanka Armed Forces. Team Next Travel.
(2023) Annual Performance Report 2023. Sri Lanka Army.
Anushka Chamod Pathirana, e. a. (2023). Burnout Among Army Personnel: Sri Lanka Experience. Research square.
(2023) History of the Sri Lankan Military. Facts & Details.
Kuruwita, R. (2025). Sri Lankan Defense Budget Grows Despite Troop Reductions. The Diplomat.
(2024) Proposal for Sri Lanka Navy’s Strategy 2030 & Beyond (NAVSTRAT-2030).
Samarasinghe, V. (2020). US trains Sri Lankan naval elite forces during COVID 19 lockdown. World Socialist Website.
(2025) Sri Lanka’s 2025 Budget: Increased military spending amid economic challenges. Tamil Guardian.
