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Special Task Force (Sri Lanka)

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This article is about the Sri Lankan Counter-Terrorist force. For the Indian Special Task Force, see Special Task Force (India). For the South African police division, see South African Police Service Special Task Force.
Special Task Force
Active1983; 41 years ago (1983)
CountrySri Lanka
BranchSri Lanka Police
TypePolice tactical unit
Size~8000 (2017)[1]
Nickname(s)STF
Motto(s)
  • නියතයි ජය
  • (Sinhala: Victory Assured)
ColoursMarine Green; Gold
Anniversaries1 March
EngagementsSri Lankan Civil War
Second JVP insurrection
Commanders
CommandantWaruna Jayasundara
Inspector General of PoliceDeshabandu Tennakoon
Insignia
Ensign

The Special Task Force (STF) (Sinhala: විශේෂ කාර්ය බලකාය Visesha Karya Balakaya; Tamil: சிறப்பு அதிரடிப் படை) is the tier one police tactical unit of the Sri Lanka Police specialising in anti-irregular military, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, clandestine and covert operations, combat and patrolling in urban areas, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis managements, crowd control, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, indirect fire for support operations, irregular warfare, operating in difficult to access terrain, protecting high-level meeting areas, search and rescue people who are in distress or imminent danger from disaster, support crowd control and riot control, tactical special operations, and other tasks requiring special training. It was formed in 1983 not as a military force, but rather as a highly specialised armed police unit.

Function

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STF Unicorn Armored Personnel Carrier

The STF is spearhead primarily involve anti-irregular military, counterinsurgency, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis managements, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, operating in difficult to access and extremely dangerous areas, protecting high-level meeting areas, serving high-risk arrest and search warrants, and special operations that are extremely high-risk and dangerous – as the most highly trained police organisation in Sri Lanka – it would be the lead unit whenever law enforcement forces engaged the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The STF is mostly stationed in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka where the LTTE was wiped out. Some small number of units are placed in Mannar District and Vavuniya District.

Other units are based in Colombo and provide VIP security. The STF is internationally recognised for its expertise in these areas and it is often invited to assist foreign law enforcement agencies with planning major events such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics and in dealing with possible terrorist threats.[2][3]

Formation

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STF contingent (armed with MP5s) at the 2012 independence parade

When the Special Task Force (STF) was formed in 1983, it comprised mainly existing policemen. It was headed by the 1960 Rome Olympian and existing Senior Superintendent of Police, Dharmasiri Weerakoon. The STF were trained by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the handling of small arms and light weapons and were given basic training in jungle warfare and small unit tactics.

They deeply resemble a paramilitary organisation and later separate training facilities for the STF have been established in Kalutara, 42 km (26 mi) south of Colombo. The first platoons formed were deployed in the North of Sri Lanka to provide additional support for police stations and to stem the LTTE separatists.[4]

The STF was enhanced considerably in 1983 when former British Army Special Air Service (SAS) crack teams were brought in to provide specialised training in all aspects of counterinsurgency, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis managements, and executive protection.[5] The SAS experts trained the STF troops at Katukurunda wing of the Police College, after making the training school into a sophisticated training complex. Further training was provided with assistance of Keenie Meenie Services in 1984.[6]

Later, the STF experts took over from the SAS in 1988. Today the STF has a fully-fledged training wing, regarded as one of the best in South East Asia. 11 August 1984, that the Israel Security Agency Shin Beth was involved in the training of the Sri Lankan armed forces. Many officers belonging to Israel were also involved in the training of the Sri Lankan soldiers in Colombo.[7]

In 2008, the STF received P2 APCs from Indonesia made by Sentra Surya Ekajaya to help the unit conduct their counterinsurgency operations against the LTTE.[8]

Operations

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STF Communication Unit

By 1987, heavily involved in the Sri Lankan civil war, the STF was in control of the area from Kiran to Potuvil in the Batticaloa District. The STF was deployed in Company formation into 15 separate camps. When the Indian Peace Keeping Force was moved into the Batticaloa in 1987 as part of the ongoing peace process, the STF was in complete control of Batticoloa, and had restored a level of normalcy to the area. From 1983 to 1987 when the STF was in control over Batticoloa not a single STF camp had come under attack from the LTTE.[9]

In 2019 STF involved in 2019 Kalmunai shootout.

Operation Niyathai Jaya (Definite Victory)

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Main article: Operation Niyathai Jaya

In its first major operation since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 2002, Special Task Force troops launched a limited offensive named "Definite Victory" (In Sinhala: නියතයිි ජය) on January 4, 2007 against LTTE rebels in the Kanchikudichcharu and Thoppigala south regions of the Ampara District, as a reaction to the child abductions in Bakmitiyawa, Ampara and abduction of two teachers and 23 Tamil children in December 2006 while they were returning from extra classes to their homes.[10][11][12]

As a result of this offensive, the elite police commandos were able to overrun more than fifteen (15) rebel camps[13] including the Stanly Base, which was the main LTTE camp in the Ampara District[14] and a regional intelligence and supply camp of the LTTE,[15] Bagayadi Base, where local and foreign foodstuffs and sanitary material was stored, Janak Base, which made clothing identical to Sri Lanka Army and Special Task Force uniforms,[16] Jeewan Base, which was another supply camp from which the STF was able to recover four vehicles and the Diana Base where LTTE leaders meet. This camp was furnished with luxury items which were denied to the ordinary LTTE cadres.[17]

After the fall of Stanly Base, STF troops were able to find an explosive laden truck and a motor cycle that the rebels were planning to use to carry out suicide attacks in the capital of Colombo. And it is also reported that LTTE was housing a large number of child soldiers conscripted by them in this camp.[18][19] Other than that, STF troops were able to recover a large quantity of arms and ammunition, coffins, large number of anti-personnel mines,[15] vehicles[20] , satellite and radio receivers, global positioning systems, power generators, boats with name and logo of the Non Governmental Organization "Save the Children", tents with the logo of "UNHCR" and a fully equipped hospital donated to the militants by a Dutch INGO named ZOA Refugee Care[21] This NGO donated hospital is named by the tigers as Thileepan memorial hospital. STF also said that they also found a water tanker truck donated by, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) which is a front organisation of the LTTE, who collect funds especially in the United States and Canada purportedly for civilians, but actually for the militant group.[15][22][23] However, aid workers argue that the supplies must have been taken after they evacuated their office due to heavy fighting. Jeevan Thiagarajah, the head of the Consortium for Humanitarian Agencies, has stated that the matter is simply a misunderstanding.[24]

As a result of this mission STF troops able to kill four rebels and the STF commented that the militants were fleeing from the area without retaliating against their troops.[12][25]

Criticism

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The Special Task Force has been accused of various human rights abuses including extrajudicial killings and involvement in the disappearance of individuals.

  • According to a United Nations commissioned study conducted in 1997, the STF was the arresting agency in 5% of the 1219 reported cases of disappearances in the Batticaloa district in North Eastern Province between 1988 and 1996.[26]
  • Additionally, after a visit to Sri Lanka from 24 August to 5 September in the same year, UN Special Rapporteur Bacre Waly Ndiaye reported the existence of allegations that individuals had died "while in the custody of the Special Task Force of Sri Lanka in Colombo".[27]
  • At least two incidents of extrajudicial killings involving members of the STF have also been noted by the Sri Lankan government or outside observers. Following the newest round of fighting between the government and the LTTE starting in April 1994, the mutilated bodies of between 21 and 31 Tamil males were discovered in rivers and lakes near Colombo.[28]
  • On 17 August ten STF officers (and fifteen others) were charged with committing the murders, which allegedly took place at the STF headquarters in Colombo. In addition, at least 17 extrajudicial killings were carried out by Sri Lankan security forces (including the STF) in Eastern Province in retaliation for LTTE attacks. Human rights monitors determined the deceased to be civilians, but security forces maintained that they were LTTE members.[29][30]

Commandants of the Special Task Force

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No Rank Commandant Took office Left office Notes
1 SP Bodhi Liayange 20 February 1983 30 November 1983
2 SP Dharmasiri Weerakoon 01 December 1983 31 August 1984
3 SSP Zerney Wijesuriya 01 September 1983 14 December 1986
4 DIG R.K. Lionel Karunasena 15 December 1986 05 September 1995
5 DIG Dharmasiri Weerakoon 06 September 1995 31 May 1998
6 DIG Nimal Gunatilleke 01 June 1998 09 September 2003
7 DIG Nimal Lewke 10 September 2003 23 March 2008
8 DIG K.M.L. Sarathchandra 24 March 2008 19 March 2011
9 DIG R.W.M.C.Ranawana 24 March 2011 14 May 2014
10 DIG J.K.R.A. Perera 14 May 2014 09 August 2016
11 SDIG M. R. Latheef 10 August 2016 07 February 2020
12 DIG M.G.L. Gunathilaka 07 February 2020 09 June 2020
13 SDIG Waruna jayasundara 11 June 2020 Up to date

Equipment

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Armoured vehicles

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STF Counter-Terrorist Bomb Disposal Unit Bomb suit personal and Equipment

Amphibious vehicles

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  • Disaster Management Amphibious Multi Unit Vehicles[31]

Weapons

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Mortars
  • Type 84 (W84) 82 mm mortars
  • Type 89 60 mm mortars
Small arms

Further reading

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  • The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of U.S. Warfare by James F. Dunnigan[32]

References

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  1. ^ "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Sri Lanka". U.S. State Department. 28 February 2005.
  2. ^ "The Deadly Mahasohon Brigade". StrategyWorld.com. September 19, 2007. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013.
  3. ^ "Sri Lankan anti-terror police to advise on Beijing Olympics". Associated Press. 8 November 2006.
  4. ^ "Strength, Sri Lanka". Photius Coutsoukis. 12 November 2004.
  5. ^ "Military Balance, Sri Lanka". Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. 1 December 2002. Archived from the original on 2 October 2006.
  6. ^ "British mercenaries investigated over Sri Lanka war crimes". BBC News. 30 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Sri Lanka: The untold story". Asia Times. 26 October 2001. Archived from the original on 16 April 2002.
  8. ^ "Menhan Tinjau Panser Produksi Dalam Negeri" (in Indonesian). 2008-05-12. Archived from the original on 2009-03-07. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  9. ^ "Nuda Veritas on The Muslim Factor". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. 15 November 2002.
  10. ^ "Commandos take eight Tiger bases in Sri Lanka". Zee News. 13 January 2007.
  11. ^ "Torture chambers used by Tamil LTTE found: Defense Ministry". Lankaeverything. 16 January 2007.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ a b "MCNS – PRESS BRIEFING". Media Center for National Security. 17 January 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007.
  13. ^ Sirilal, Ranga (16 January 2007). "Sri Lanka says captures Tiger lines, kills 30 rebels". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Sri Lankan military seizes more camps of rebel LTTE". Kuwait News Agency. 14 January 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-16.
  15. ^ a b c "Elite commando forces of the police over runs a large Tamil Tiger base in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka". To The Center. 8 January 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  16. ^ "Tamil Tigers in a death groan in the East of Sri Lanka, after the STF capture of Janak Camp in Amparai". Asian Tribune. 12 January 2007.
  17. ^ "Three LTTE camps tumble as STF advances in the East". Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka. 13 January 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  18. ^ "Sri Lanka commandos capture truck packed with Tamil explosives". The China Post. 12 January 2007.
  19. ^ "Rebel base falls in east Sri Lanka". United Press International. 12 January 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
  20. ^ "Rebel's camp captured in Sri Lanka's east". People's Daily Online. 11 January 2007.
  21. ^ "Sri Lanka probes aid groups for suspected rebel links". Reuters. 11 January 2007.
  22. ^ "INGO Tsunami Aid Found in Newly Captured LTTE's 'JANAK' Camp". Media Center for National Security. 11 January 2007. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009.
  23. ^ "Colombo tightens transport security". Gulf Times Newspaper. 10 January 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
  24. ^ "Sri Lanka probes aid groups for suspected rebel links". Reuters. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-10.
  25. ^ "Elite police overrun top rebel base in east Sri Lanka, says military". The International Herald Tribune. 8 January 2007.
  26. ^ "CHAPTER 3: BATTICALOA DISTRICT". Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Involuntary Removal or Disappearance of Persons in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. September 1997. Archived from the original on 2006-10-24. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  27. ^ "Sri Lanka: Thematic Reports – Mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights". Human Right Internet. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  28. ^ "Sri Lanka Assessment: April 2000 - Country Information and Policy Unit" (PDF). London, U.K.: Home Office. April 2000. p. 25. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  29. ^ U.S. Department of State (March 1996). "Sri Lanka Human Rights Practices, 1995". Archived from the original on 2007-03-10. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  30. ^ McDonald, James F. (November 1995). "AIUSA testimony – Sri Lanka". InfoLanka. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  31. ^ "Picture Report | www.defence.lk". www.defence.lk. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
  32. ^ Publisher : Citadel, Year:(June 1, 2003), Language: English, ISBN 0-8065-2415-4 / ISBN 978-0-8065-2415-3
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