Sri Lanka's Ministry of Public Security has announced plans to recruit 10,000 retired military personnel into its police force.
The move comes amid revelations linking former soldiers to a growing wave of gun violence, organised crime, and even overseas mercenary activity.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala disclosed the initiative during the opening ceremony of the new Superintendent of Police office in Thambutthegama. According to the Minister, the recruitment will target individuals under the age of 45 who have "legally retired" from the army, navy, or air force. A Cabinet Paper seeking approval for the five-year appointments is to be submitted imminently.
The announcement comes in the wake of a sweeping security crackdown that has seen over 1,700 military deserters arrested across the island, many implicated in organised crime and illegal arms trafficking. In recent weeks, authorities have reportedly seized over a thousand illegal firearms, highlighting the scale of the threat posed by militarised elements operating within Sri Lanka’s underworld.
Minister Wijepala admitted that many of those involved in criminal activity had previously served in the Sri Lankan armed forces. Some, he said, had even cultivated relationships within the police and security establishment, blurring the lines between law enforcement and the criminal world.
“Disciplinary actions have been taken, and we are actively prosecuting those involved, both in Sri Lanka and abroad,” Wijepala said, adding that international red notices had been issued and extradition negotiations were ongoing for fugitives who had fled the country.
Sri Lanka has deployed 500 additional officers from the elite Special Task Force (STF) to support the crackdown, while promising further operations to dismantle criminal networks with military links.
Sri Lankan soldiers have also been recruited as mercenaries in the war between Russia and Ukraine, with some participating in combat operations on both sides.
