A Lankan academy as international training centre against terror

by Edither G. Perera
Retired Superintendent of Prisons

Sri Lanka has been plagued with the canker of terrorism for the last 30 years. It started with the killing of Alfred Duraiappah, the Mayor of Jaffna. The terrorists of Sri Lanka are the most ruthless, dangerous and innovative outfit in the world.

Their associates and sympathisers are spread in several countries and assist the terrorists in Sri Lanka with vast sums of money and the most sophisticated weapons. The adverse effects of terrorism have gone on for the last 30 years and successive governments failed to curb this menace. They are responsible for the killing of a number of leading politicians, both Sinhalese and Tamils, a President of Sri Lanka, Rajiv Gandhi, religious dignitaries and innocent civilians.

They stalled several peace talks conducted in different countries, to enable them to have sufficient time to equip themselves with adequate equipment to continue the war.

A few months after this government came to power, Tigers provoked the government on several occasions to commence a war. Finally, with the closure of Mavil-Aru, with large acres of paddy lands left bare, the government thought enough is enough and initiated action against them to prevent the suffering of the cultivators.

The government gave the proper leadership, most modern equipment and training for the defence forces. The Defence Secretary, the service commanders of the Army, Navy, Air Force and STF, who are thoroughly efficient, dedicated and incorruptible officers, gave the requisite guidance, motivation and leadership to the defence forces. They learnt from several humiliating defeats, together with deaths of a large member of soldiers and loss of weapons. Remedial action was taken to prevent such losses.

A consistent and sustained onslaught on several fronts by the ground forces, together with aerial attacks on vantage points by the Air Force and sinking of several ships loaded with arms and surveillance by the Navy, have restricted the Tigers to 20 square metres. Nevertheless, the defence forces have to be vigilant for a few years because there may be sporadic raids in the suburbs.

Terrorist menace is prevalent in several countries in the world. Almost daily, there are bomb blasts in several countries killing people. This has hampered the development of countries. Tigers in Sri Lanka were considered invincible. This was the opinion internationally as well. But now the entire world is aware the Sri Lanka defence forces are the most efficient to combat and eliminate terrorism. They possess the knowledge, skills, expertise and experience to annihilate terrorists.

The government should endeavour to provide this knowledge and experience to other countries by providing facilities to train foreign defence personnel to defeat terrorists. Government should seek foreign financial assistance to establish a training academy at Kandawela. Finances should be utilized to construct lecture halls, residential facilities and equipment for training. Practical training may be at Kilinochchi and necessary facilities for training and residential quarters should be provided.

The Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, should be in charge of the academy. The defence forces commanders, their senior staff and STF personnel should be the training staff. They should draw up a training manual, both theoretical and practical, for a specific period. This training academy would generate valuable foreign exchange and would be of immense benefit for our defence forces as well.

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