Sri Lanka to increase defence spending to US$ 1.74 billion

[Lankan Ranger]

Sri Lanka to increase defence spending to US$ 1.74 billion

Colombo (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Sri Lanka’s defence budget is to reach 200 billion rupees (US$ 1.74 billion) this year. This is about 17 per cent of overall government spending for the year. Last year defence spending stood at 166 billion rupees (US$ 1.4 billion).
Earlier this year the Defence Ministry had requested a raise to 177 billion rupees (IS$ 1.54 billion) to pay for the war against Tamil rebels. Now, even though the war is over and ammunition purchases from China and Pakistan have been cancelled, defence spending is going up even more.

The ranks of both armed forces and police have also increased, 110,000 in 2006, 240,000 last year and 350,000 this year. By next year an additional 50,000 are expected.

From:SRI LANKA Sri Lanka to increase defence spending to US$ 1.74 billion this year - Asia News

 

[Lankan Ranger]

Sri Lanka Plans for Increased Defense Spending

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - The Sri Lankan government plans to keep up record defense spending, a senior official said, despite the country's recent victory over Tamil rebels that ended nearly four decades of fighting.

Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said the military needed to be modernized and payments made on hardware bought on credit.

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Sri Lanka raised its defense budget to a record $1.6 billion in 2009, and it crushed the Tamil Tigers separatists in May after months of intense battles.

"I don't see an immediate need to reduce the defense spending next year," Rajapakse told AFP on the sidelines of a meeting Aug. 18.

"We have cut down on our ammunition purchases. But we need to bring in new technology to upgrade our military capacity."

From:Sri Lanka Plans for Increased Defense Spending - Defense News

 

[Lankan Ranger]

Sri Lanka expected to buy high tech weapons from China.

Inside information says including J-10B jets, Fast attack boats, 3D radars & other high tech weapons.

China already supply's heavy weapons to Sri Lanka.