The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Defence, I reply as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) As at now, 9,970 have been recruited to the Sri Lanka Army, 6,144 to the Navy and 471 to the Air Force under direct entry.

¶ 03 (ii) Based on Tri-Forces requirements, personnel have been recruited on a military basis for construction, technical and agro-technical trades, including storekeepers, computer operators and drivers, among others. Specialists such as air-conditioning technicians, marine mechanical engineers and aircraft engineers are engaged at national scale. The detailed list of trades includes, inter alia:

¶ 04 - Sri Lanka Army: civil engineering technicians, quantity survey assistants, account clerks, IT technicians, electricians, plumbers, masons, carpenters, vehicle mechanics, fiber workers, cooks, educational assistants, beauty assistants, veterinary assistants, agricultural workers, and administrative support staff. - Sri Lanka Navy: mechanical (marine) engineers, civil/mechanical technicians, communications technicians, intelligence section staff, stores, supply and transport assistants, boat maintenance personnel, and various industrial trades. - Sri Lanka Air Force: aircraft engineers, radio/electrical technicians, avionics technicians, radar/communications technicians, air radio mechanics, ground support equipment technicians, and administrative/educational staff.

¶ 05 (iii) The purpose is to rapidly deploy professionally qualified personnel to meet service needs, reduce time and cost of training, and contribute efficiently to national security and nation-building. Personnel with NVQ Levels 3, 4, 5 and diplomas can provide active contributions within shorter timeframes, including to streamline administration and workforce productivity.

¶ 06 (iv) Yes.

¶ 07 (v) Personnel recruited on a military basis for specified trades are engaged only in those trade and administrative duties. They are not provided with full military and weapons training as for regular recruits, except for an approximately two-week basic orientation per service needs. Accordingly, their deployment is limited to the recruited trades and associated administrative duties.

¶ 08 (vi) Promotions for such personnel are granted as per service-specific procedures:

¶ 09 - Sri Lanka Army: Upon passing requisite trade tests and completing required time-in-rank, promotions are granted up to the rank of Sergeant depending on unit vacancies. - Sri Lanka Navy: Promotions are granted every five years to the next rank from the rank at recruitment. - Sri Lanka Air Force: Promotions follow a special procedure after serving the stipulated time in the recruited rank.

¶ 10 Minimum service periods for promotion differ between general enlistment and direct entry (e.g., timelines for temporary to substantive Corporal and Sergeant ranks, and progression to Lance Corporal/Leading Aircraftman and Non-Commissioned Officer grades), as per each service’s regulations.

¶ 11 (b) (i) The planned reorganization of the Tri-Forces is being prepared in a well-structured manner. No decision has been taken to remove personnel recruited on a military basis.

¶ 12 (ii)–(iii) Not applicable.

¶ 13 (iv) The reorganization process is being formulated in line with timelines. No decision has been reached to remove or compulsorily retire currently serving personnel as stated in the Question. Concurrently, structured programmes are being initiated to productively integrate the skills of those due to retire in the ordinary course and those already retired into the national economy, in coordination with the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development.

¶ 14 (v) As part of these measures, a pilot initiative titled “Mission Reboot” is being planned. Interviews are underway to select suitable Tri-Forces personnel, with training to be provided in chosen entrepreneurship fields, supported by Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Minister.

¶ 15 (c) Not applicable.