Sri Lankan authorities are deliberating on whether to maintain Army and Navy presence at two strategic locations in the former conflict zone of Mullaitivu in the Northern Province.
The government is set to make a determination regarding the continuation of military operations at Keppapilavu and Vadduvakkal in Mullaitivu district, according to military officials familiar with ongoing deliberations. The decision follows a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Defence Minister Maj. Gen. (retd.) Aruna Jayasekera at the Mullaitivu Divisional Secretariat, where representatives including Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vethanayahan and several government officials discussed the matter.
The review comes as part of a broader restructuring of the military footprint across the Northern and Eastern regions since the conclusion of the armed conflict in May 2009. Over the past decade and a half, the armed forces have progressively scaled back their presence in these areas, with Mullaitivu experiencing particularly minimal military activity in recent years. The Army has already withdrawn personnel from several locations throughout the district.
This assessment reflects a wider trend of military downsizing across the country. According to military sources, active Army strength has declined from approximately 205,000 personnel during the conflict period to the current level of 126,000. President and Defence Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as UNP leader, authorized an additional plan in 2023 to reduce Army strength further to 100,000 personnel. The decision regarding Keppapilavu and Vadduvakkal will likely influence the broader deployment strategy as these reductions are implemented.
