Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha said that maximum efforts are being taken to modernize the country's defence forces. He made the remarks while addressing a Navy passing out parade as chief guest at the ‘Naval and Maritime Academy’ (NMA) in Trincomalee on December 28th.
Arriving at the NMA, the Defence Secretary was received by Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and Commandant of the NMA Commodore R. Joseph.
Flanked by Buddhist monks and senior Sri Lankan Navy officers, Thuyacontha assured "maximum efforts to modernise Sri Lanka’s defence forces with the latest technologies and equipment." He said that the island’s defence forces will be employed exclusively for their primary role of military assignments in defending the country. In his speech he emphasized that “we expect to undertake a review of the armed force structure to ensure optimal utilization of resources and to enhance operational efficiency by implementing targeted recruitment and focusing on quality over quantity in personnel selection.”
Previously, Thuyacontha was the Wing Commander of the No 09 squadron, a helicopter gunship squadron that conducted nearly 400 missions during the armed conflict with Tamils which concluded in May 2009. The genocide saw tens of thousands of Tamil civilians killed by the Sri Lankan military who indiscriminately bombed hospitals and government declared ‘No Fire Zones’.
Furthermore, Militarization in Tamil areas is a huge threat to Tamils. The Sri Lankan government has implemented extensive surveillance mechanisms in the Tamil-majority areas. This includes monitoring of phone calls, movement restrictions, and the installation of military checkpoints. The presence of military personnel in civilian life is still widespread, with Tamils often feeling watched and controlled.
The lines between military and civilian life has also blurred in the Tamil regions. Military officials are often involved in local governance, economic activities, and even education. This militarized environment has created a sense of fear and repression among the Tamil population, with little room for dissent.
Recently, in Vathirayan, troops from the 10th Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment provided a “nutritious lunch” for children from the Ilampirai Preschool. Photographs show uniformed officers distributing food to the children. According to the Sri Lankan military website, troops from the 52nd Infantry and 522nd Infantry Bridge took part in this ceremony.
In Poonakari, alleged war criminal Major General Wickramasinghe led a blood donation campaign last October, at Poonakari Hospital, Jaffna. According to a dossier released by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), Wickramasinghe was involved in frontline combat at the height of the armed conflict in 2008-9, where he commanded the 8th battalion Gajaba Regiment.
The Sri Lankan Defence Secretary paid tribute to the war heroes at the passing out parade and said that the "war heroes deserve their honour and respect for today, tomorrow, and always for the supreme sacrifices that they have made to give us a better future."
