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Sri Lanka Civil Security Force

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(Redirected from Sri Lankan home guards)

Not to be confused with Sri Lanka National Guard.
Department of Civil Security
සිවිල් ආරක්ෂක දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව
சிவில் பாதுகாப்பு துறை
Active1 January 1986 – present
CountrySri Lanka
TypeAuxiliaries
RoleCivil Defence
Size33,687
Part ofMinistry of Defence
Garrison/HQColombo
Motto(s)Protect the Country with Self-Sacrifice
EngagementsSri Lankan Civil War
Websitecsd.lk
Commanders
Director GeneralAir Vice Marshal Roshan Biyanwila
Notable
commanders		Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara

The Department of Civil Security (Sinhala: සිවිල් ආරක්ෂක දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව Sivil ārakshaka depathamentuwā; Tamil: சிவில் பாதுகாப்பு துறை) (also known as the Civil Defence Force) is an auxiliary force administered by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence.

It traces its roots to the Home Guards which were lightly armed local volunteers organized to protect their villages from attacks by the LTTE. These units were formed into the National Home Guard Service in 1986 under the Mobilization of Supplementary Force Act No. 40 of 1985. These home-guardsmen came under the command of the local police becoming one of two paramilitary units under the Sri Lanka Police. The Home Guard Service was re-structured on under the Gazette notification No. 1462/20 of 13 September 2006 which established the Civil Security Department (CSD). The CSD is headed by a Director General, currently held by Air Vice Marshal Roshan Biyanwila.[1]

The CDS is not to be confused with the Sri Lanka National Guard, which is a volunteer reserve regiment of the Sri Lanka Army.

Functions

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The original role of the CDS was the protection of "threatened villages" also known as "border villages" that were adjacent to LTTE held areas most of which are in Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Ampara and Monaragala Districts. However the role later expanded to protecting important sites and supply routes.[2]

The main roles of the CDS are,

  • To serve as auxiliary to the police and the military to aid in the maintenance of internal security,
  • To serve in static defensive duties such as manning checkpoints, guarding low priority buildings or installations, guarding villages, etc. during time of war,
  • To proved security for government buildings and institutions,
  • To function as an emergency force intended for special tasks directly or indirectly connected with the defense of the country, and
  • To help the community in any kind of emergency, such as a natural disaster.

Other, more special duties include:

  • Providing security to centers of economic importance during time of war,
  • Protecting supply routes during time of war.

History and establishment

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The male CSF members at an independence day parade
The female CSF members at an independence day parade

Starting from the early 1980s, civilians were recruited and armed as territorial defence units. Following the 1982 elections, the state through the Mahaweli Authority pursued a policy of forcibly evicting Tamil villagers in Weli Oya and Maduru Oya areas and establishing Sinhalese settlements there in order to counter Tamil separatism. A 30-member security unit consisting of Sinhalese settlers in Maduru Oya was formed in 1983 with the support of the Mahaweli Authority and the Sri Lankan armed forces. The Sinhalese settlers were trained in firearm use and strategic defence. Many of these settlers were later recruited as home guards in the border villages between Sinhalese and Tamil areas.[3] The introduction of the home guards in May 1984 contributed to the escalation of the ethnic conflict, with Tamil civilians being attacked by them and the LTTE launching attacks against Sinhalese settlers in November.[4]

The National Home Guard Service was thus established in 1986 by then Minister of National Security Lalith Athulathmudali with a strength of about 5000 personnel, armed with 12 gauge shotguns and brown uniforms. No allowances were paid initially, but some rations were issued through co-operative outlets. Subsequent to the takeover by the Police, the volunteers were paid a daily allowance and provided training at Kumbuka camp, Horana.[citation needed]

In 1988 guardswomen were allowed to volunteer, and 1993 saw the first issue of automatic rifles to the Home Guard. However they were not very well organised, trained, or motivated resulting in many villages being massacred by LTTE raids. Further during the 2002 ‘'Ceasefire Agreement" their importance was reduced and were given non-security duties.[2]

In April 2006 due the resumption of the conflict and LTTE raids the then Secretary of Defence, Gotabaya Rajapaksa reformed the organisation renaming it into the Civil Defence Force, followed by the establishment of the Department of Civil Security on 1 January 2007 (through gazette notification No. 1462/20 of 13 September 2006) to oversee it. The first Director General of the Civil Defence Force was Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara.[2]

Functions of the Department of Civil Security were established to be:[1]

  • Taking actions as a supplementary force for aiding and assisting the armed forces and police service, depending on the prevailing security status in the country,
  • Taking action to safeguard villages, properties, and cities where terrorist threats are present,
  • Assisting the police and armed forces to maintain law and order,
  • Engaging in security duties on instances of national events and any other important occasions,
  • Assisting with disaster mitigation and relief efforts,
  • Assisting with social welfare activities,
  • Carrying out any special duties specified by the President, line ministries or the government, and
  • Operation of a Civil Security Department Headquarters.

The numbers employed increased to 41,500 from just 19,200 and a month-long military training regime under Army and Navy Instructors was introduced. Further, two types of uniforms (similar to military uniforms) were issued to guardsmen. Those in the most vulnerable places were even equipped with night vision equipment. Since then, members of the force have been deployed outside their home villages to maintain public security, including within the capital Colombo. By May 2009 near the end of the war 80% of the Main Supply Routes and 75% of the Forward Defence Lines were guarded by the CDF as well as major religious places such as Sri Maha Bodhiya and Dalada Maligawa as well as crucial economic targets. [2]

Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara with the approval of the Defence Secretary formed a special elite unit called ‘Nandimithra' named after one of the Ten Giant Warriors. The elite unit consisted of four-man groups from almost all vulnerable villages that were special commando training for ten weeks including ambushes, night fighting, un-armed combat including Angampora.[2][5] They waited in pathways leading to villages and ambushed LTTE forces that attempted to target villagers and their success deterred terrorist attacks. Unlike the rest of CDF whose duty was to hold off the enemy protecting civilians until reinforcement arrive Nandimithra units launched limited offensives just outside the threatened villages.[2]

In the post-war period, CSD personnel are involved in community service projects, including agriculture, social welfare development, animal husbandry, and construction projects. After 2019 further recruitment was halted to reduce the force in size. As of 2023 the numbers had been reduced to 33,687. [6] It has been proposed to early retire the entire force due to the 20 Billion LKR yearly cost of maintaining it and the lack of duties with many staying home earning salaries.[7]

Ranks

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Current ranks

Former ranks

  • District Officer
  • Warden[8]
  • Sub Warden[8]
  • Home Guard[8]

Training

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Training is provided in two stages: basic training is provided by the Sri Lankan Army at various army training centres, usually for 2–4 weeks, while periodical training is carried out by mobile training units in the areas where units are deployed.[citation needed]

Equipment

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Former Director-Generals

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Mobilization And Supplementary Forces Act (No. 40 of 1985)". commonlii.org. Commonwealth Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "BUSINESS TODAY -SHIELDING THE INNOCENT - REAR ADMIRAL SARATH WEERASEKARA". www.businesstoday.lk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. ^ Muggah, Robert (2008). Relocation Failures in Sri Lanka: A Short History of Internal Displacement and Resettlement. London: Zed Books. pp. 108–134. ISBN 978-1-84813-046-3.
  4. ^ "Surface calm, pervasive fear". Frontline. 13 December 1985. p. 31.
  5. ^ "Spectrum | Sundayobserver.lk - Sri Lanka". archives.sundayobserver.lk. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Civil Security Force designated as attrition force; no recruitments for nearly four years - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk.
  7. ^ "Sri Lanka to offer early retirement 34,000 civil protection force". EconomyNext. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "ප්‍රාථමික අර්ධ ශිල්පීය සේවා ගණය (PL-02-2006A) සඳහා උසස්කිරීම් පරිපාටිය" (PDF). csd.lk. Civil Security Department of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
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