STF - an elite force

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Their expertise spread from providing close range protection for key VVIPs to wide range protection provided to the public. They are the skilful creators of solid protection against any variety of terrorism or insurgency situations. They are the task oriented, battled hardened elite para-military arm of the Sri Lanka Police - The Special Task Force.

Hand picking the best men of the Police Department and seasoning them with specialised para-military training the STF was started on March 1, 1983 guided by the Motto ‘Victory Assured’. They were subjected to specialization in counter terrorism operations and VIP security detail recognized throughout the past for its complexity and success.

Liberating East

Of the entire STF history the liberation of the Eastern thearter in 2006/2007 marked a turning point. It was the beginning of the victorious end of the Eelam War IV.

“The STF was more familiar with the Eastern grounds as we were operating in the area since inception,” Senior DIG Mahinda Balasuriya, Admin/STF/Operation Command said explaining the significant contribution of the STF. “Our troops were more familiar with the people, their social characteristics and the ground situation, specially in Ampara and Batticaloa,” he added.

By the time the LTTE closed the sluice gates of Mavil Aru in July 2006, the STF was dominating the Ampara and Batticaloa districts. Enabling the Sri Lanka Army troops to advance for their operational commitments to liberate the Mavil Aru area, the STF was ordered to take over the areas dominated by the Army. The Sri Lanka Army launched the humanitarian operation to liberate the entire Eastern and Northern Provinces.

The STF successfully took over the security in Kalladi area, Batticaloa town to Mailambaveli in Eravur. In September 2006, the STF received orders to take over Vavunativu and Black Bridge Army bases. The Army troops were relieved for the operations launched to liberate Vaharai. In January 2007, Sri Lanka Army successfully liberated Mavil Aru, Sampur and Vaharai areas from LTTE clutches.

Victory assured

On January 04, 2007 the STF launched ‘Niyathai Jaya’ (Victory assured) operation in the Kanchikudichcharu jungles parallel to the Army operations conducted to liberate Vaharai and Thoppigala areas. The ‘Victory Assured’, was launched when Senior DIG Nimal Lewke was the Commandant of the STF and the Operation successfully captured and destroyed 24 main LTTE bases in the Kanchikudichcharu jungle. In their unique operational method the STF launched striking attacks in the approximately 2900 square kilometres of the Kanjikudichcharu jungle.

“Our strength is small teams and it would comprise not more than 8 men. And with these teams, the entire jungle area was secured by our officers,” Commandant of STF DIG K.L.M. Sarathchandra said explaining the key points of the history of STF operations.

The operation, spearheaded by SSP M.R. Latif, eliminated the LTTE threat in the Ampara district with support of the entire team of STF officers deployed in the area lead by SP W.P. Wimalasena, SP Madduma Bandara, ASP T.F. Hadji, ASP Vidura Dissanayake, ASP P.K. Kulatunga, ASP P.G.S. Rathepitiya, ASP M.G.S.K. Muruthetuwegama and ASP W.M.K.S. Pandivita.

Liberating A5

The STF received instructions in early February to assist the Sri Lanka Army to launch the military campaign flushing away the LTTE threat from Batticaloa.

“When the Sri Lanka Army started advancing deep into Thoppigala (Baron’s cap) area the STF took over a total of 38 detachments from the Army enabling their advance movement,” DIG Sarathchandra said.

These were in general areas of Wellaweli, Kokkadicholai, Vavunativu, Kakkachiwatta, Kalawaya, Porativu, Shanthimalai, Atuchenai, Mavadimunaru, Paladiwatta, Magaladathivu, Purasari, Naripulthottam which were mainly villages where Tamil people were living.

During this period the STF was deployed in Pulukunawa, Kohombagasthalawa, Maha Oya, Pullumalai and Unnichchi - villages in the Ampara district bordering the Batticaloa district. In the early stages of this operation the STF launched several missions to regain the control of part of the A5 road. The initial operational plans were drawn on the basis of the information provided by the Intelligence Units and by Intercepting LTTE communications done by the STF. In the next few days the Long Range Reconnaissance Petrol teams belonging to the Army Commandos conducted their missions stationed at these STF camps - specially during the regaining of the A5 road. More Army troops were recieved and settled in STF camps such as Manmunai, Vavunativu, Chenkaladi etc in the Batticaloa district with Army’s Armoured Corp, Artillery and MBRL units.

From April 5, 2007 the STF took over more newly cleared areas dominated by the Sri Lanka Army enabling them to move forward. Three new STF sectors were formed in Vellavelli, Kokkadicholai and Vavunativu.

The STF dedicates gratitude for the efforts made by the then Director (Operations) SSP R.W.M.C. Ranawana, ASP Waruna Jayasundara, ASP J.R. Senadira, ASP Vidura Dissanayake, ASP G.S. Rathepitiya, ASP Sylvester Wijesinghe and ASP N.K.S.N. Gunaratne assisted the STF to regain the maximum domination and the best public confidence in the newly liberated areas.

The combined military campaign continued till the fall of Thoppigala LTTE bastion in July 2007.

Displaced civilians

Thousands of civilians, living in the LTTE dominated areas continued to flee seeking the protection of the Sri Lanka security forces as the Sri Lanka Army troops were progressing deep in to the Tiger held areas in Thoppigala.

Automatically the STF was vested with an additional responsibility of assisting and over looking the newly arrived IDPs. From May 14, 2007 the STF commenced the re-settlement of IDPs in Vellaveli Divisional Secretariat Division with the assistance provided by the Government. At the end of the programme the STF commendably resettled nearly 100,000 IDPs in four DS Divisions successfully.

In the North

“By coordinating and consolidating the security of the recently liberated areas under the humanitarian mission the STF greatly supported the Sri Lanka Army in rear,” Snr. DIG Balasuriya said explaining the contribution of the STF to the recent operation in the Wanni theatre. Be it evacuation of casualties, stabilising the security of the liberated areas, securing main supply routes the STF was ready for any of the responsibilities directed to them.

In January 2009, the STF took over securing the Weli Oya road from Omanthai in Vavuniya. Next, in February, they were instructed to take over the areas of A9 road from Omanthai to Kanagarayankulam via Puliyankulama. The STF was securing the Vavuniya - Mannar road and Madhu road. On the other side, the STF was securing the Kebithigollewa general areas giving protection to number of villages threatened by the LTTE terrorism.

Early victories

Among the early operational victories of the STF since its inception, Operation ‘Weera Vikum’ (1996), Operation ‘Weera Gigum’ (1997) and Operation ‘Akunu Pahara’ (2001) launched during Eelam War 3, were significant.

“The special operational strategy of the STF is swift actions by small teams. The less time you take more effective the attack would be,” DIG Sarathchandra, battle hardened leader of the STF said. In June 2001, under the direction of DIG Sarathchandra, the then Director Operations, the ‘Akunu Pahara’ (Lightning strike) was launched. “As per the information available, operation ‘Akunu Pahara’ was reported to be the mission conducted in a shortest time period,” DIG Sarathchandra said.

“We launched the mission around midnight on June 04, destroyed the main LTTE base in the Kanchikudichcharu jungle and returned to our base by 11 am next day.

The enemy was totally unaware of our presence until we started firing and assaulting,” DIG Sarathchandra said. “We didn’t suffer a single death or a casualty in that mission,” the triumphant leader pointed out.

The present

On April 03, 2009 under the direct leadership provided by the Commandant DIG Sarathchandra the STF successfully launched an offensive to eliminate terrorist threats in the Yala area.

“We believe these LTTE cadres were those who escaped during the intense operations in the Kanjikudichcharu jungle. And at the beginning approximately 55 terrorists were in our areas as per ground information and intelligence sources,” DIG Sarathchandra said.

The STF was operating in approximately 6000 square kilometres in the Yala, North of Kumbukkan Oya, and within a short period the STF officers killed 35 LTTE cadres including several leaders.

The entire LTTE operations malfunctioned and nullified with the dedication and commitment of the elite troops.

Among the list of LTTE leaders Lavamohan, Tuviraj, Balaturai, a female leader Swarna and explosive expert of the gang ‘Paramanandan’ master were prominent. ‘Paramanandan’master was responsible for many of the claymore and landmine attacks that happened in the Yala area in the recent past.

Securing the nature

Though the elite force is specially trained for anti terror activities, they were dealing with a another form of terrorism in the East for a long time. Illegal timber felling and Cannabis plantations were damaging the entire Eastern sector in a large scale. If not properly controlled the menace could create worse damages than terrorism.

The STF caught 50 people red handedly engaged in this trade along with their specially designed bullockcarts, which are twice as large and strong than the normal carts. After being produced in Courts these people are still under rigorous imprisonment. Hence, the area is under stiff control providing strength to the entire security of the area.

Speciality

The elite force is given a sixteen week initial extensive training. Their speciality is working as small teams. “Depending on the requirement we sent smaller teams called ‘Cheetah groups’ and for these we specially train our officers with several years of combat experience.

They are the cream of our fighters,” Commandant said.

Deployment of motorcycle teams, Snipers and `Cheetah groups’ in their areas of control are few of the specialized areas of the STF.

Their training from the inception was exclusive. Trainers polished by the initial training by the reputed British Special Air Service and the Special Air Service Officers Organization of Great Britain gave a boost for the entire upbringing of the organization.

The negative impact the LTTE felt with these training became evident with the assassination of former Commandant of STF training School SSP Upul Seneviratne at Kandy.

The enemy knew it is the training that made these men so unique.

Stabilizing peace in the country is the Special Task Force’s future responsibility would be.

“We are unique. We are the only para-military organization with police powers. Hence we are confident that our future tasks would be similarly successful,” Commandant DIG Sarathchandra stated.