SLA launches recruitment drive

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 November 1998, 18:57 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) requires 20,000 additional troops to conduct its on going operations and to recapture areas taken by the Liberation Tigers said Major Gen.K.A.M.G.Gunaratne addressing a press conference held at the army headquarters this afternoon, to apprise the press, of the army's latest recruitment drive.

The army hopes that it can meet the shortage by arresting atleast 15,000 deserters who are still at large and by taking 5000 in the current recruitment drive.

The first phase of this recruitment drive by the SLA began early this year and was aimed at drawing about 10,000 youth into the army.

However according to Major K.M.G.Gunaratne, the army considered it a success that it managed to recruit 4776 Sinhala youth. He said that the second phase of the SLA's recruitment drive for this year will begin on December 7.

Several recruitment centres will be opened soon, in various parts of the island. The recruits, according to Major General Gunaratne will be given 3 months training and will have to sign a bond that he will serve 20 years with the army before retirement.

The basic qualifications required to join the army are that one is a Sri Lankan citizen between 18 and 28 years, educated upto year 9 and that he is 5' 2" tall and single.

The recruit has to produce a certificate of authentication from the Grama Sevaka (Village Officer), two character certificates, the birth certificate and school leaving certificate.

Major General Gunaratne retired recently from the military Police regiment of the SLA, where he served for many years as provost martial. He was the Brigade Commander in Kandy when Dalada Maligawa was attacked in February this year. This officer was taken back after retirement to the army headquarters. Major General Gunaratne retired as a Brigadier from the Sri Lankan Army.