Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

..When we were at a crucial stage of the Jaffna battle I wanted to send some of the commandos in the inner defence of the headquarters of Palali to the front. We were short of special operational teams so I contacted the STF commandant at that time DIG Nimal Gunatilake, and asked him to send me 100 STF personnel for the protection of headquarters. He said I am the only one who says that Jaffna will be safe and will be preserved. The President, no minister or senior government officials or service commanders say that we will win Jaffna. Therefore, it was difficult for him to order 100 STF people. So when the DIG spoke to the STF troops guess what happened? 900 volunteered to go to Jaffna and to battle, to support General Janaka Perera. This was when the President of the country and everyone else said it's a no go, it's a death trap. Those soldiers were prepared to go to that death trap because I said it can be won they were people who had families but they were prepared to take that chance. These incidents should be specifically mentioned because I think this is heroism. They are heroes, they have the dedication, they have the ability, and they have the commitment...

..Compared to some of their Asian counterparts, there is a distinct difference between those in the Sri Lankan Security Forces and the Police, including the Special Task Force (STF)...

..Whatever Government is in power, whatever task is handed down to them, they execute it with deep commitment and dedication. This is both during war and peace. No questions are asked, not even from their own superiors. This is exactly what they did in the battlefields of Batticaloa west...

..In the bloody battles during 58 days - April 8 to July 11 - (Phase II of military operations west of the A-5 Maha Oya-Chenkaladi highway), some officers and men paid the supreme sacrifice. Some of the injured will be left out of battle forever. Some others wait till their wounds are healed to return to battle. That is how they re-captured Toppigala (Baron's Cap)...

..A young Captain commanded 70 odd troops, who fought close quarter battles against 300-400 guerrillas. The LTTE attempt came a cropper. According to independently verified information and intercepted LTTE transmissions, at least 330 Tiger cadres were killed in the four days of fighting in the abortive mission. That was the first major guerrilla loss in the East...

..The insecure people were panic-stricken at seeing their self-imposed sole representatives taking to their heels even before the people themselves. The Tigers have, for a long time, conned the people into believing that they would stand and fight to protect the people. Now the Tiger bluff has been called...