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STF to provide security for Maldives SAARC Summit in November

Sri Lanka will provide security from its Special Task Force (STF) units for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Addu City next month.

STF, an elite special forces unit of the Sri Lankan police formed in 1983 focuses on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

The Maldives Foreign Ministry and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) confirmed on Friday that the STF will send police dogs to support unidentified security matters. "Previously, security dogs were allowed at the international airport, I'm not sure if they are still there but Maldivian law permits dogs to be used for security measures," said MNDF Spokesperson Abdul Raheem.

"The dogs will clear the same areas as the event and other security forces, but I can't say what they will be looking for," he said.

President's Office Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair told Minivan News that the STF dogs would not be an issue for the SAARC event. "We had dogs earlier for security without any trouble, I don't see why anybody should object because the government has employed dogs before," he said.

All countries participating in the SAARC convention are providing security forces.

According to Zuhair, Bangladesh has donated trucks to the Army, India is providing police forces, and equipment at an estimated value of US$400,000 will arrive from Pakistan in the next few days. China will provide CCTV equipment for surveillance. "It's a well-integrated and cooperative effort with MNDF and all participating members," said Zuhair adding that Addu was a unique site for an event of this magnitude. "The last SAARC was held in Male', but this time the event will be spread across several islands.

Transportation logistics will be different," said Zuhair. Raheem said security preparations are under way for SAARC, and that MNDF "is sure that things will be to our satisfaction." Heads of state from the region will be attending SAARC, several of which are currently high-profile figures in the international community. "We have to look at this as a high-risk event. Some heads of state are high-risk, but we are treating each and every head of state as high-risk to ensure their security," said Raheem. Local media reports that STF forces have been having special training programs in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo to prepare for the Addu event.

(Minivan News)

 

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