30th Anniversary of the STF:

From humble beginnings to a formidable force

The Special Task Force is a Special Auxiliary Unit of the Police service. It was first set up on 1.3.1983 as the Special Striking Force with Katukurunda Police School as its centre named as Special Task Force Training School and engaged in training officers.

The special function of the Special Striking Force was to provide security to Police stations in the North and assist Police in countering terrorist activities in those areas.

A special team of officers from this group were assigned for security in the Wellawatte area during the communal clashes dubbed the Black July incidents. They operated from the Wellawatte IBC Centre. On September 1, 1984, a group of STF officers travelling in a truck from Point Pedro to Velvettiturai were attacked by LTTE terrorists killing four and injuring nearly 15 of them. This was the first terrorist attack during the STF history and a commemoration ceremony is held on September 1 every year in memory of the departed men.

In 1984 the SSF was restructured as the Special Task Force, brought under the Defence Ministry and equipped with modern weapons and camouflage jungle warfare uniforms. The then Presidential Secretary Advisor Ravi Jayewardene took the initiative in this matter and a special team from the British Army SAS was brought down for the provision of training to its officers. The then Commanders Senior DIG (retired) Shirney Wijesuriya and late DIG Lionel Karunasena rendered a great service towards the progress and welfare of the STF. The STF which was engaged in duty in Jaffna was later assigned for duties in Batticaloa district under then ASP N.K. Illangakoon who is the present IGP. At first it set up our centres in Batticaloa district North from Kalladi to Akkaraipattu. They were at Kiran, Kallady, Kalawanchikudi and Akkaraipattu.

When the Humanitarian Operations concluded on 19.05.2009 there were 64 STF camps and 20 sub camps in Batticaloa and Ampara areas. Following the Parliament Bomb Explosion in 1987 the STF concentrated more on VIP security. As a result the VIP Security Section of the STF was born. Ever since the STF had made its contribution towards the security of a large number of VIP’s including Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers and MPs. The contribution made towards the Humanitarian Operations to liberate the East and the North.

The operation to liberate Batticaloa Northern region including Mavil Aru, Sampur, Vakarai and Thoppigala.

Humanitarian Operations to liberate the East and North from terrorists began in July 2009 with the closure of the Mavilaru anicut by LTTE terrorists.

Taking charge of the full security of the Batticaloa area round the clock the STF assisted the Humanitarian Operation launched by the Sri Lanka Armed Forces.

It assisted the Army operation to liberate Vakarai by taking over of the Vavunativu security network from the Army.

Jaya Niyathai Operation (Kanchikudichchiaru area)

Under the guidance of the Defence Secretary the STF undertook the Jaya Niyathai Operation in the Kanchikudichchiaru region concurrent to the Humanitarian Operation to drive away the LTTE terrorists and successfully completed it. Operation to liberate Batticaloa and Thoppigala

Under the direct contribution rendered by the STF the Army was able to launch a successful operation to drive away LTTE terrorists from Batticaloa and Thoppigala areas. The Army launched this operation according to the correct intelligence provided by Intelligence Units and terrorist surveillance units of the STF.

The intelligence data provided by the STF enabled Army (LRRP) Long Range Reconnaissance Platoon to successfully achieve many targets. Army attack units successfully liberated LTTE areas making use of the fire power of Artillery and Multi Barrel guns (MBRL) positioned at STF camps. During the Humanitarian Operations the STF was also able to resettle nearly 100,000 displaced civilians in four DS divisions.

As a result of the co-operation extended by the STF the Army was able to liberate the entire Batticaloa area by the end of April 2007 and the STF set up three new battalions named Kokkadicholai, Vavunativu and Wellawali covering the liberated areas. The uninterrupted support given by the STF enabled the Army to liberate the Thoppigala area too by July 10, 2007.

The operations to liberate the East were successfully completed due to the contribution of commander DIG R.W.M.C. Ranawana who was then Director (Operations) STF and other area commanders and other grades.

STF contributions towards the liberations of the North:

In January 2009 the STF took over security duties along Omanthai – Welioya road when the war against terrorist reached its zenith in February 2009. The STF took over security duties along the A-9 supply route form Omanthai to Kanagarayankulam as a support to the Army. This enabled the army to move its troop reinforcements along the A-9 route after 25 years starting from March 9,2009. The contribution made towards the liberation of the North by STF personnel through great self sacrifice will be eternally remembered.

Throughout the STF journey so far 462 officers and six minor staff had sacrificed their lives in the face of LTTE terrorist attacks and 792 officers had been injured or disabled.

Every year a ceremony to commemorate STF heroes is held on September 1. During this ceremony religious ceremonies are conducted to bestow merit on departed heroes and invoke blessings on the injured and disabled while school equipment and scholarships are distributed among the children of departed heroes and crutches and wheel chairs distributed among the disabled.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the STF on March 1, arrangements have been made on the direction of Commander DIG R.W.M.C. Ranawana to conduct the commemoration ceremony giving precedence to religious ceremonies. Meanwhile an all night Pirith ceremony was held in this connection at the STF headquarters at Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo yesterday which will conclude with a Dana to the Maha Sangha today.