'CDF a great strength to Security Forces'

Lakshmi DE SILVA

The Civil Defence Force (CDF) that had no political or other differences with their vigilance had proved to be a great strength to the Security Forces to prevent LTTE massacres of civilians.

There were 150,000 youth from 14,913 Grama Niladhari divisions who serve voluntarily to protect the country, Minister of Power Mahindananda Aluthgamage who organized the CDF told the Daily News yesterday (15).

"It was only an year ago we started the CDF and we trained ten youth from each village. They were assisting in providing security to the City of Colombo and their own villages during the Sinhala New Year season without a payment," he said.

"The LTTE is now weakened but we will strengthen our defence force more so that these young boys who love their country could do a better service. We want to expand our service to other areas too," the Minister said.

The Civil Defence Force with its alert campaign, was able to prevent many bus bomb explosions and mass murder of civilians after the bomb explosion at Nugegoda. After that incident the bus bomb near St. Bridget's Convent, the Mt. Lavinia bus bomb and the bomb near Meegoda and the Panagoda Army camp were prevented due to the vigilant public," he noted.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa were happy about the success gained by the Civil Defence Force and the service rendered by them to safeguard the country," he noted.