COLOMBO (Data 1st); Sri Lanka Elite Police Strain, the Police Explicit Course of Strain, celebrates its fortieth anniversary on Wednesday (1).
Here’s a take a look on the historic previous of this elite energy, that was intrumental in countering terror assaults, and sustaining the peace.
Initially of the early Nineteen Eighties, with the emergence of terrorist actions throughout the North and East, the Police in the midst of their duties wanted to face armed assaults carried out by the terrorists.
The terrorist assaults resulted throughout the killing of police personnel, assaults on Police Stations and assassinations of VIPP.
Subsequently the necessity arose for the formation of a specific military arm contained in the Police Service to counter terrorist actions.
Throughout the delicate of the above state of affairs, a Explicit Committee was appointed to research the police capabilities so far to struggle terrorism and its shortcomings.
The Ranasinghe Committee report actually useful the need to arrange a Explicit Strike Strain to assist the Police Division, as the current explicit gadgets weren’t environment friendly to satisfy the terrorists’ assaults.
Thereafter the Authorities of Sri Lanka requested the Police Division to launch 60 personnel to variety a Explicit Strain and obtained the suppliers of Most important Ananda Weerasekara, Most important Sumith Rohan Manawadu of the SLA (in 2015 every held the rank of Most important Frequent).
After the preliminary teaching at Katukurunda struggle teaching was given at Navy Battle Teaching College at Ampara.
After the teaching interval, this group served beneath the administration of ASP Bodhi Liyanage. Initially they received teaching within the utilization of 303 Rifles and S.L.R. which customary the military wing of the Police Division as a Explicit Inserting Strain. ASP Bodhi Liyanage served solely a interval of 09 months. He was succeeded by SP Dharmasiri Weerakoon. SP Dharmasiri Weerakoon serves as the head of the Explicit Strike Strain from 01.12.1983 to 31.08.1984.
This outfit was first deployed throughout the North to produce security to the Police Stations and to assist the Police to counter the terrorist threats. A bit of this Unit was deployed in July 1983 to produce security in Wellawatte all through the communal riots usually referred to as “Black July”. The remaining personnel, who had been serving throughout the North, had been deployed in Stage Pedro, Velvettiturai and Kankesanturai Police Stations in Jaffna District.
The impartial duties carried out by this Unit all through the communal riots to deal with peace, gained the reward of the Tamil Group along with that of the Authorities. Consequently, this Unit was deployed to produce security to VVIPs along with PSD. They assisted the PSD to produce security the least bit capabilities attended by his Excellency the President.
On 05.05.1984 it was named as a result of the Explicit Course of Strain and was related to the Police Division as a Para Navy Unit.
The Headquarters of the Explicit Course of Strain was at Ward Place. Mr. Ravi Jayawardena, then Security Advisor to the Ministry of Defence took an brisk curiosity in buying specialised teaching to S.T.F. personnel by worldwide Instructors.
An Institution within the UK usually referred to as the “Kini Mini Service” (Okay.M.S.) comprising of British ex-SAS officers equipped teaching to the STF officers on the very beginning.
Among the many many matters taught had been methods adopted by Riot squads, weapon teaching, firing practices, Counter Terrorism Search, Coping with of Explosive, Mapping & Use of Compass gear and First Help. Moreover the introduction of the world renowned American made M16 Automated Rifle. This entitled the S.T.F. to the Inexperienced Beret which was awarded to internationally renowned Explicit Forces personnel.
On 01.09.1984 a gaggle of STF personnel who had been serving in Jaffna District had been caught up in a landmine explosion organize by the terrorists at Tikkam on the Stage Pedro Welvetiturai freeway. Police Constable 2539 Chandrapala, PC 4100 Ekanayake, 3928 Nanayakkara and PCD 13089 Sumanasekera had been killed throughout the effectivity of their accountability. That they had been the first casualties of the S.T.F.
In February 1985, security in Batticaloa District was handed over to the Explicit Course of Strain by the Sri Lanka Navy. The first S.T.F base was established in Kallady house and N.Okay. Ilangakoon, ASP, (present Inspector Frequent of Police) was the first Commanding Officer of S.T.F. troops in Batticaloa. Inside a few months the S.T.F. was able to counter the terrorist actions of EROS, TELO, PLOTE and EPRLF effectively.
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