Why Does Sri Lanka Need Intelligence Reform?

Abstract

Sri Lanka's history is marked by a protracted separatist war, which lasted nearly three decades, with a persistent struggle against terrorism. The nation's intelligence community has been instrumental in preserving national security during the three decades of separatist war. However, in the current post-war context, Sri Lanka grapples with complex geopolitical landscapes due to India's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region and the resurgence of great power competition. Also, Sri Lanka is exposed to the growing influence of violent extremism, which was evident by the Easter Sunday Attacks on 21st April 2019. Within such a complex security situation in Sri Lanka, shifting from a reactive intelligence approach to adopting a proactive strategic intelligence framework is needed. Thus, this commentary focuses on Sri Lanka's need for intelligence reform, highlighting the shortcomings of the current intelligence system, the influence of political interference, the need for modernity, and the importance of preserving human rights and accountability.