Hostile forces still active - Defence Secretary

Sandasen MARASINGHE in Punani, Welikanda

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said intelligence sources have learnt that various forces hostile to Sri Lanka were operating at an international level to establish some kind of organisation to promote terrorism in Sri Lanka.

Addressing over 4,000 security forces personnel at the 23 infantry division Headquarters, the Defence Secretary said under these circumstances, the country’s security cannot be ignored and it was the responsibility of the three forces and the police to maintain normality obtained defeating 30 years of terrorism.

Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said for Security Forces to play this role effectively, the Government has decided to change the Security Forces structure soon.

Although the country has entered a new chapter in respect of the security situation, the pro LTTE international network that gathered funds and weapons and smuggled weapons to Sri Lanka is still active, he said.

Although certain key figures overseas have been arrested and the capacity of the LTTE and the leadership destroyed, there are international forces attempting to establish some other organisation in the country favourable to them, Rajapaksa said.

The Defence Secretary said personnel attached to the three forces and the police should be fully aware of the history as to how the LTTE started as a small organisation and developed into an organisation that could boast of artillery, multi barrel, missiles and planes.

“It is only then that the forces can prevent the emergence of another such terrorist organisation, the Defence Secretary said.

He emphasised that Security Forces should give prime importance to security although they enjoy freedom now.

He said the Ministry has taken measures to shift the camps from schools and Government buildings in the North Province and they will be established in separate’ areas with more facilities.

The Defence Ministry also pays great attention to the welfare of the war heroes who died at the operations and those disabled and also others. They will be provided houses under various schemes and schools will be established for their children as well.

The Defence Secretary made this address during his visit to the East to inspect the Security situation, civil coordination affairs and the progress of the development projects under the Negenahira Navodaya conducted under the supervision of the Eastern Security Head Quarters in Welikanda.