Sri Lanka is in the process of reducing the number of its Army personnel to 135,000 by the end of the year, a significant drop from the existing cadre of 200,783, according to sources cited by media.

Last year, State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon announced plans to cut the Army's numbers by a third to 135,000 by 2024 and further to 100,000 by 2030, as part of a broader financial overhaul initiative by the government. The objective is to create a more streamlined and effective defense force by the target year.

The downsizing effort has already led to a reduction of nearly 35,000 Army personnel within a few months, with recruitment being halted for non-essential units and only essential units being considered with approval from the Ministry of Defence.

In contrast, the Sri Lanka Air Force is reported to have seen a decline in personnel from around 35,000 to approximately 27,000, with recruitment being minimized but not entirely stopped. Similarly, the Sri Lanka Navy's physical strength stands at around 40,000, with ongoing recruitment to maintain operational efficiency.

While the tri-forces have traditionally been deployed during strikes in various sectors such as health, electricity, and ports to ensure continuity of services, discussions around military downsizing raise concerns about the availability of personnel for such multitasking roles in the future.
In a recent development, over 1,000 soldiers were deployed to state-run hospitals to assist medical authorities amidst a strike by health workers, highlighting the military's role in maintaining essential services during disruptions.