Armed forces - Sri Lanka (original) (raw)

In 2002 the armed forces of Sri Lanka totaled 157,9000 active personnel with 5,500 reservists. The army numbered 118,000 including 2,960 women. Equipment included 62 main battle tanks. The navy had personnel numbering 20,600, manning five bases with 61 patrol and coastal combatants. The air force of 19,3000 operated 22 combat aircraft and 24 armed helicopters. The paramilitary consisted of around 88,600 personnel in a police force, national guard, and home guard. The opposition forces of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam numbered around 7,000 armed troops. In 1998 defense expenditures amounted to $719 million or 4.2% of GDP.