Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the government wouldn’t reduce the strength of the armed forces though the LTTE had been defeated. Dismissing reports of planned demobilisation, he said that the government would recruit 50,000 personnel to all three forces.

Addressing the media at the Media Centre for National Security yesterday, he said that the armed forces had to be bolstered to ensure stability in the liberated areas of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Heavy presence of armed forces and police would be necessary to ensure that no one took advantage of the situation. He emphasised that though restrictions on fishing had been relaxed, security measures spearheaded by the Navy had to be in place to prevent smuggling and other illegal pursuits.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that 22,130 persons had been recruited to the Sri Lanka Army beginning this year. Of them, 7668 had been recruited after May 18. The recruitment process was continuing, he said.