CSD a leading player in development drive - Defence Secretary
Irangika Range
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said yesterday that war heroes
attached to the Civil Security Department (CSD) were rendering yeomen
service in the country.’s development drive.
He said the government did not decommission war heroes attached to
the CSD following the war, but made use of their contribution in the
country’s development efforts.
The Defence Secretary was addressing a ceremony to handover the keys
of 102 new house to war heroes of CSD and exercise books worth Rs 12
million to over 24500 schoolchildren of CSD members held at the BMICH .
“Everybody thought that the government would decommission the CSD
following the victory of the war. But we did not do so,” he said.
He said they took measures to deploy them in productive projects and
cultivation ventures across the country to obtain their contribution for
the development process of the country. On the other hand, we further
strengthened the CSD by recruiting more rehabilitated ex LTTE members,”
he said.
“Our security forces are well trained and disciplined. Therefore, on
the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapkasa, they have been deployed
in many development activities that allows them to earn additional
income without placing any burdens on the Treasury, he further said. The
Defence secretary said cadre strength of the CSD had been increased to
41,500 and Army trained them properly. Sophisticated arms were given to
them instead of shot guns that they had been familiar with.” We have no
idea of decommissioning CSD personnel who protected threatened villages
during the war. Today, they have been deployed in many development,
construction, cultural and religious projects in their villages as well
as the country itself”.
He further said that everybody used to say that the answer to the
terrorist problem could not be found through the militarily means. But
the people elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa to win the war and he did
it within the two and half years to see the end of 30 year war.
Improving the welfare of the post conflict security forces has become
a top priority of the government. “ I appreciated the efforts of the
Seva Vanitha Unit of the CSD for constructing 102 new houses for their
members despite many difficulties.
Even after the war has ended, the SVU of the CSD rendered yeomen
service by becoming the helping hand to the war heroes and their
families, in their new role in the post war era. Though the CSD SVU does
not receive much attention or donations from the public due to the short
period of its existence, it never rejected any request from CSD persons
or their members.
CSD Director General Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris said that CSD
personnel who earlier made maximum contribution to eliminate terrorism
is transforming itself as a battalion shouldering the task of developing
Sri Lanka and cultivation ventures in the country.
The CSD which was first known as the Home Guard Service providing
security to villages was restructured under the purview of the Defence
Ministry, providing all facilities. Not only uniforms, boots, but also
due social recognition has been granted after the CSD was established.
As they did earlier during the conflict by adding their strength to
achieve victory, they would do same in the country’s agriculture,
construction, cultural religious sectors .
He said paying tribute to CSD personnel, President Mahinda Rajapaksa
pledged a pension for members of the Civil Security Force who
contributed to the humanitarian operation that liberated the country
from terrorism. CSD has earned an income of Rs. 342 million so far from
its agricultural, fisheries and brick manufacturing ventures. The CSD
members who held firearms in their hands with a view to protecting their
villages during the war, were now seen with mammoties and machetes,
toiling away to cultivate lands. Over 10,000 acres, have been cultivated
with various crops , covering all CSD forces headquarters throughout the
country.
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