The Navy at 57

Sri Lanka's Armed Forces have admirably taken up the challenge of facing - and defeating - one of the most ruthless terrorist groups in the world. The three Armed Forces, the Police (including the Special Task Force) and the Civil Security Department (formerly Home Guards) are rendering a yeoman service through their selfless commitment to defend the Motherland.

Although it is not possible to rate the achievements of one Armed Force over another, as they have equally contributed to the success of the military drives and humanitarian missions launched so far, the Navy has been playing a crucial role in the last few years to deal a deadly blow to the Tigers through the interception of arms shipments.

More than anything else, the Tigers cannot thrive without a supply of arms and ammunition. All their fundraising activities abroad directly and via front organisations are mainly aimed at procuring weapons for the conflict in Sri Lanka.

It is rather well known that they used the cover of the ceasefire during 2002 - 2004 to bring in shiploads of weapons and even aircraft parts - which eventually helped form their nascent 'air wing'.

The stark reality is that the powers that be at the time did not want these shipments intercepted, even though the Ceasefire Agreement explicitly recognised that only the Government of Sri Lanka and its Armed Forces had the sole authority in the seas.

To add insult to injury the powers that be at the time even pulled up the Navy top brass for venturing to intercept probable arms shipments and given a ticking off. It was a no go zone during that time for the Navy and this attitude to national security was one of the key elements that eventually led to the premature ouster of that regime.

We must be grateful to the Sri Lanka Navy for exercising vigilance and being ever alert to the threat posed by the LTTE on the high seas. Its biggest victory was the total destruction of three LTTE arms ships in a matter of two days in September this year.

Previously, it had destroyed more than 10 medium and big LTTE weapons vessels.

It can therefore be proud of its achievements in its relentless battles to indict arm shipments and also pre-empt weapons smuggling into the country through its sophisticated intelligence network, thus dealing a paralysing blow to the designs of the LTTE.

It would be no exaggeration to describe the Navy as the linchpin of the military thrust against the LTTE for its role of starving the outfit of military hardware through a watertight defence at sea. Not content with a defensive role it has also made daring forays into the highs seas off Lankan limits to apprehend arms vessels.

The gallantry of the Navy was also demonstrated when it effected a daring rescue of a passenger vessel ferrying Security Forces going on leave for the New Year holiday and sparing the country of what may well have been a bloodbath on a highly significant day for the majority population.

It goes without saying that the Navy had been performing a signal role in debilitating the LTTE as a fighting force though its deeds have not always received the attention it deserves in the media which sometimes tend to overlook the role it plays as the first line of defence out at sea.

It has also earned many plaudits for its exemplary conduct even under the gravest provocations and had been known as a well disciplined fighting unit throughout the present conflict. It had taken great pains to avoid civilian casualties.

It is perhaps this quality of the Lankan Navy that had spurred the Indian navy to come to its defence against charges that it was firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk strait.

According to our front page story yesterday the Naval Officer in Charge of Tamil Nadu said such incidents were not intentional and that fishermen get caught in the crossfire between the Sri Lankan Navy and the LTTE.

This no doubt speaks volumes for the disciplined and responsible conduct of the Lankan Navy which turned another leaf on Sunday by marking its 57th anniversary as a vital cog in the country's defence establishment.