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(By Lieutenant Duminda Senarath)
2026-10-17
For decades, cinema has been one of the most powerful mediums to portray the military, but more often than not, the portrayal of the Army on screen has been far from reality. As the Sri Lanka Army approaches its 77th Anniversary on 10th October 2026, it is timely to examine the difference between the reel Army that we see in films and the real Army that guards the nation, an institution that has evolved since its inception as the Ceylon Army on 10th October 1949 into a modern, professional and soldier-centric force.
The first and most visible difference between the reel Army and the real Army is in discipline. The reel Army is shown as a force defined by constant shouting and aggression, where orders are always screamed and discipline is shown through anger. The real Army operates on calm, quiet and precise discipline. Orders are given clearly and obeyed instantly, not because of fear, but because of trust and training. True military discipline is silent and composed, not theatrical.
The second difference is in humanity. The reel Army shows soldiers as lonely, detached figures without family, love or emotion, whose only purpose is war. The real Army is deeply family-oriented. Every soldier is a son, a father, a husband and a brother. Barracks celebrate birthdays, mourn losses together and maintain an unbreakable bond that is built on humanity, not just duty. Soldiers fight not out of hatred for what is in front of them, but out of love for what is behind them.
The third and biggest difference lies in its role. The reel Army is confined to jungles and battlefields, creating an image that the soldier only holds a rifle. The real Army of today is far beyond war. It is guided by the farsighted vision of its 26th Commander, Lieutenant General Nilantha Premaratne, who has outlined a vision of a soldier-centric, modern and professionally competent Army. This vision rests on five key principles which are respecting others’ duties, knowing one’s responsibilities, accountability, continuous learning and discipline. To put this vision into action, the Commander has introduced nine strategic approaches which form the main pillars of the future Army. These approaches focus on ensuring operational readiness to safeguard national security, enhancing professional training and education, placing soldier welfare and administration at the centre of all decisions, strengthening discipline and accountability at every level, expanding the Army’s contribution to national development and nation-building, maintaining effective leadership during emergencies and disaster response, undertaking humanitarian operations, protecting the environment and advancing green initiatives within military camps, and modernizing the force with new technology while enhancing its role in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
These nine approaches are further translated into thirty five institutional objectives which are the concrete tasks that every formation and regiment will work to achieve. These objectives cover practical improvements such as upgrading living quarters and welfare facilities for soldiers and their families, improving medical and health care, enhancing training curricula from basic training to senior command courses, promoting sports and physical fitness, reducing administrative burden through digitalization, strengthening logistics and maintenance systems, ensuring transparent procurement and financial accountability, developing infrastructure for national needs, expanding disaster relief capabilities with modern equipment, increasing contributions to agriculture and environmental conservation, and preparing more troops to the highest standard for international peacekeeping duties. This is the real Army, where broad vision becomes measurable action that improves the life of the soldier and the service to the nation.
Another clear difference is in leadership. The reel Army shows officers as distant figures detached from the hardship of their men, sitting far from danger. The real Army upholds the tradition of leading from the front, a tradition maintained for 77 years, which is why officers have historically made the supreme sacrifice in larger numbers. The principle of eating last, sleeping last and ensuring the welfare of soldiers first remains the core of officership.
There is also a difference in emotion. The reel Army portrays soldiers as emotionless machines who do not feel fear or grief. The real Army teaches that courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to move forward despite it. The strength of a soldier lies not in suppressing emotion, but in controlling it to save the lives of others and to accomplish the mission.
Finally, there is a difference in relevance. The reel Army suggests that the Army’s relevance ended with the end of the war. The real Army’s 77-year journey from 1949 to 2026 proves otherwise. The Army that secured the unity and territorial integrity of the nation has now become the guardian of peace, the builder of the nation and its ambassador to the world. The victory in war was historic, but the victory in peace, through humanitarian service, disaster relief and nation-building, is a daily and greater achievement.
The real Army is more disciplined, more humane and more multifaceted than any reel Army has ever been able to capture. As the nation marks 77 years of dedicated service, it is important for storytellers to move beyond stereotypes and portray the real Army. The real Army does not need exaggeration, because its true story of sacrifice, professionalism and service to the nation is more powerful than any script.
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