Need to systematically integrate former soldiers into society

NEARLY 16 years have passed since the guns fell silent and ended the brutal civil war. At its peak, the military was at its largest, a force built for war and survival. Today, in a time of peace, the country continues to grapple with what to do with this oversized army. Reductions have been made, but not as the outcome of a systematic demobilisation strategy. Instead, soldiers have been quietly released into society with little preparation and fewer opportunities. The consequences of this neglect are now visible.

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Demobilisation is not just a military exercise but a social responsibility. A country that asks its young men and women to fight in its name must also ensure that they are cared for when the fighting stops. In Sri Lanka’s case, this has not happened ina structured or meaningful way. Former soldiers, many of them trained in combat and survival but not equipped with marketable civilian skills, are being left to fend for themselves in an economy already struggling to provide jobs. For some, this means frustration, social alienation, and a dangerous turn towards criminality.