Army open to anyone meeting qualifications: Spokesman'

Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara yesterday noted that any Sri Lankan citizen with the necessary qualification could join the armed forces and that there are no restrictions based on ethnicity in the recruitment process.
He was responding to the comments made by National Integration Minister Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan, widely known as Karuna Amman, who had earlier told BBC’s Sandeshaya that he was informed of the new unit by SLA commander General Sarath Fonseka a few days ago.  The minister, who formed the paramilitary group Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) after defecting from the Tamil Tigers in 2004, said hundreds of his former followers were already integrated into the SLA.
“600 cadres out of 900 have already joined the army. The rest of my cadres are currently staying in military camps. I hope all of them will join the army once their paperwork is completed,” he said.  The minister, who was regarded as the second most senior military leader while he was with the LTTE, said most of the former members had been recruited as soldiers.
Regardless of these conflicting stands the Military Spokesman assured that there would be room for Tamil youths to join the army if they can meet the requirements.