The SLAVF officers and soldiers are paid at a similar rate, while engaged on military activities, as their regular counterparts.

Since 2014, recruitment of civil professionals to the volunteer reserve had re-started with the army reverting to a peace time role.

The second phase in the employment of non-British military personnel commenced in 1861 after an ordinance authorized the creation of Volunteer Corps.

During the First World War, many volunteers from the Defence Force traveled to England and joined the British Army, and many were killed in action.

One of them mentioned by Arthur Conan Doyle was Private Jacotine of the CLI, who was the last man left alive in his unit at the Battle of Lys,[which?]

Following the attempted coup, the two regular and three volunteer battalions suspected to be involved were disbanded along with the CVF headquarters.

This process was discontinued the Army headquarters undertaking recruitment and training centrally and allocations based on vacancies in each unit.

Volunteer units played a vital role in Sri Lankan civil war in battles such as the Weli Oya, Kokavil, Mandaitivu and in the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection sustaining many casualties.

The Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force is to be a versatile and efficient organization through training while being a reliable outfit and ready to assist and support the Regular Force during any eventuality locally or internationally The SLAVF consists of about 50,000 volunteer combat officers and other ranks attached to various units and regiments of the Sri Lanka Army.

With the exception of commissioning from other ranks, all potential volunteer officers need to be processionals, employed as executive grades in public/private sector or have a private income of Rs.500,000 per year.

VFTS conducts advance training programs such as staff and command courses for junior and senior volunteer officers.