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Downsizing Sri Lanka army could mean better long-term security


 Cash-strapped Sri Lanka has announced plans to halve its military by 2030 as part of efforts to cut costs in light of the country's financial crisis. Under new proposals, the number of approved military personnel would be reduced from 200,783 to 135,000 by 2024, and further reduced to 100,000 by 2030. There are also plans to modernize the defense force by making it technically and tactically sound.

Experts have welcomed the downsizing move, saying it could result in better long-term security "if done the right way." They believe reduced expenditure on wages would introduce more economic stability and help the country focus on getting out of its financial crisis. However, they have also warned that downsizing has to be done strategically to support efforts to get out of the crunch.

Downsizing the military would not be done "haphazardly", said Army spokesman Brigadier Ravi Herath, adding "it will be done through restrictions in recruitment and natural retirement." This would help reduce any issues arising from unemployment and prevent triggering another "social problem", he mentioned.

Sri Lanka has been facing constant criticism for spending a large chunk of its budget on the military. As per its Budget 2023, the island nation plans to spend around 539 billion rupees on its military, even more than the budget allocation for health and education - 300 billion rupees each.

According to a recent study conducted by Daniel Alphonsus, former advisor to the Sri Lankan ministry of finance, Sri Lanka's defense budget between 2009 and 2017 was 2.4% of the country's GDP. "There is a huge mismatch between expenditure on diplomacy versus the military," Alphonsus said, noting that diplomacy was an area that did not receive the required attention and that "the quality of diplomats is poor."


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