Sri Lanka’s Army has announced that it will be taking over the responsibility from printing driving licences instead of using a private company.
Whilst Sri Lanka’s Statement Minister of Transport, Dilum Amungama, has claimed that the decision was made due to fiscal considerations, it follows a concerning “militarisation of civilian functions”.
In May, the Economist reported on this worrying militarisation of Sri Lanka noting that Rajapaksa’s appointment of generals, many accused of committing war crimes, to take over civilian roles including being “in charge of customs, the port authority, development, agriculture and poverty eradication.
Since the end of the armed conflict, Sri Lanka’s military has maintained a strong presence over the Tamil homeland. In 2018, Sri Lanka’s Campaign for Peace and Justice highlighted the military’s increasing role in tourism.
The first driving licence is to be presented to the head of Sri Lanka's army, and accused war criminal, Shavendra Silva.
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