Defence Secretary tells Security Forces personnel:

Maintain high standards

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Danushka GODAKUMBURA

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday stated that the personnel of the three Forces and Police should maintain the professional and high standards with the same skill they gained during the humanitarian operation against the LTTE.

Addressing more than one thousand tri-forces personnel and Police at the Headquarters of the 61 Division at Vellankulama the Defence Secretary stated that for this purpose the personnel should be thoroughly knowledgeable of the rules and regulations in their respective forces. He also stated the Forces and Police that maintain high standard of professionalism are respected by all in a country and it was a matter of pride to be a member of such a force.

The Defence Secretary noting that the security situation in the country is different today said that different methods should be utilized to ensure the security of the country.

The Forces personnel should be fully aware of how the LTTE emerged, strengthened and spread. It is only then that the Forces could counter another emergence of a terrorist organization. Defence Secretary Rajapaksa further stated that one of the prime responsibilities of the Forces were to work for the well-being of society. During his visit to inspect the security situation of the Vanni area the Defence Secretary visited the Madhu Church as well.

Arny Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya and Commander of the Security Forces Headquarters Vanni, Major General Kamal Gunaratne also were present at the occasion.