150 ex-Servicemen join Rail Security Force

Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: One hundred and fifty ex-servicemen joined the Security Force of the Railways Department yesterday to enhance the protection provided to railway commuters and property against terrorist attacks targeting public transport.

The new security officers possessing expertise in detecting, defusing explosives and combating terrorist activities constitute the first batch of 600 ex-service personnel to be recruited to the public transport sector.

Addressing the ceremony to hand over appointment letters to the new recruits, Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said the LTTE’s continuous onslaught of innocent train and bus commuters proved its inhumane nature and sheer brutality.

“There is a reason as to why politicians and members of the Armed Forces become targets of terrorists. But there could be no reason whatsoever for the indiscriminate and senseless killing of unarmed civilians. Such attacks are clear proof of the LTTE’s ruthlessness,” he said.

Minister Alahapperuma called upon the new recruits to provide the same commitment they made to their respective regiments prior to retirement, towards safeguarding the lives of train commuters.

“Strengthening the security provided to public transport services is the need of the hour. It is this need, and not any incompetence of the present Railways Security Force, that made us recruit ex-service personnel to the Force”.

Commenting on a statement made by the Opposition Leader calling Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa a traitor, the Minister said it was questionable since the Opposition Leader has never been heard calling the LTTE leader a traitor.

Interviews are presently underway to recruit 400 more ex-service personnel to be deployed in buses of the Sri Lanka Transport Board. Persons below 45 years who have lawfully retired from the Security Forces after a minimum of 12 years of service are eligible to apply.