It traces its roots to the Home Guards which were lightly armed local volunteers organized to protect their villages from attacks by the LTTE.

[2] The main roles of the CDS are, Other, more special duties include: Starting from the early 1980s, civilians were recruited and armed as territorial defence units.

A 30-member security unit consisting of Sinhalese settlers in Maduru Oya was formed in 1983 with the support of the Mahaweli Authority and the Sri Lankan armed forces.

[2] Functions of the Department of Civil Security were established to be:[1] The numbers employed increased to 41,500 from just 19,200 and a month-long military training regime under Army and Navy Instructors was introduced.

By May 2009 near the end of the war 80% of the Main Supply Routes and 75% of the Forward Defence Lines were guarded by the CDF as well as major religious places such as Sri Maha Bodhiya and Dalada Maligawa as well as crucial economic targets.

[2] Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara with the approval of the Defence Secretary formed a special elite unit called ‘Nandimithra' named after one of the Ten Giant Warriors.

Unlike the rest of CDF whose duty was to hold off the enemy protecting civilians until reinforcement arrive Nandimithra units launched limited offensives just outside the threatened villages.

[6] It has been proposed to early retire the entire force due to the 20 Billion LKR yearly cost of maintaining it and the lack of duties with many staying home earning salaries.