Sri Lanka Civil Security Force

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 Puttlam, 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 instutions,
• 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.

The male CSF members at an independence day parade

The female CSF members at an independence day parade

The start of the Sri Lankan civil war saw attacks by the LTTE on "border villages" (villages bordering the edges of the frontlines), causing considerable civilian casualties. Villagers began organising themselves into Home Guards, wherein local volunteers were initially armed with shotguns by the government, to help defend low priority rural areas that could not be held or protected by the armed forces without compromising the frontlines. 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.[2]

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][3] 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. [4]

Current ranks

• District Officer[5]
• Leader[5]
• Sub Leader[5]
• Civil Guard[5]

Former ranks

• District Officer
• Warden[5]
• Sub Warden[5]
• Home Guard[5]

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.

• Type 56-2 assault rifle
• FN FAL
• Heckler & Koch G3
• Glock 17

• Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara
• Major General Nandana Senadeera
• Major General Ranjan Lamahewage
• Air Vice-Marshal Roshan Biyanwila

• Official website of the Civil Security Department
• Official website of the Ministry of Defence
• Homeguard page