Ex-SLA serving in PMCs

A few Sri Lankan ex-servicemen have engaged in what some hastily call mercenary duties as part of Private Military Companies (PMCs). This is a growing trend following successful counter terrorism, counter insurgency and close protection experiences and successes of the Sri Lanka Army in recent times.

One of the first SLA officers to take up a contract with a PMC was Brigadier Peiris from Commando Regiment. Brig. Peiris was a very senior officer in the military, even senior than the present Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka.

Having passed-out from Intake 1 of the Officer Cadet course from the SLMA, Brigadier Peiris soon became an authority on close protection otherwise known as VIP/VVIP Protection. Brigadier Peiris' brother also served in the Army until his untimely death.

Since then a number of officers and men from the Army have take up PMC contracts overseas from Cambodia to Iraq. We have identified around 15 ex-Special Forces who have been in and out of Iraq in recent times alone.

Many of the Officers were junior officers in the Special Forces and Commando Regiments, majority being retired soldiers but also retired Corporals and even Sergeants. Many were fairly young having served 12, 15 and sometimes 20 years or more in the Army. Having joined the Army as young as 18, many of these men know only one thing-- to fight.

They were fairly happy with the benefits they received with each man receiving something equivalent to $2,000-2,500 on average as salary per month. They are hired on a contract-basis and are provided with insurance coverage. Contrary to media coverage of these regions many claimed that their tasks were not all that precarious.

Majority of their duties included protection of private installations and convoys. A number of officers and men from the Engineering Corp have also received assignments in international de-mining operations including the removal of Unexploded Ordnance (UXOs).

Senior Special Forces officers whom we spoke to claimed that the deployment of ex-servicemen was not, in anyway, a hindrance to the Army's reputation. None of these operatives are considered SLA any more and have to engage in these activities as civilians and at their own risk.
It is true that these individuals have obtained training and critical exposure to certain battlefield environments having served in the SLA but the Army no longer has a binding agreement with any of these individuals nor do they towards the Army.

Many of the services these individuals provide cannot be considered as directly assisting the United States or its allies in Iraq. They are now part of a legitimate business to provide security to those who require such and the Sri Lanka Army has no qualms with that.