Sri Lanka passes call-up law
NZPA-Reuter Colombo Sri Lanka has passed a law providing for compulsory military service for the first time to fight Tamil separatist guerrillas. Parliament approved the measure after Opposition members walked out, demanding that the debate
should be postponed to give them more time to study the bill. The Education Minister, Mr Ranil Wickremasinghe, said that the security forces had to be strengthened to fight guerrillas trying to set up a separate State for minority Tamils. The Supreme Court ruled
this week that the bill, under which male and female citizens over the age of 18 could be drafted, was consistent with the Constitution. The Government has not disclosed how many people would be enlisted in the planned reserve forces. The National Security Minister,
Mr Lalith Athulathmudali, has said that a force of 100,000 would be required to protect the country. Initial enlistment would be for one year including training, and then for 21 days each year for 10 years unless mobilisation was extended under a state of emergency.
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Press, 12 October 1985, Page 11
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173Sri Lanka passes call-up law Press, 12 October 1985, Page 11
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