The Special Task Force (STF) today celebrated its silver jubilee at the police headquarters in Colombo with IGP Victor Perera as the chief guest. Former STF chief Nimal Lewke was also present.
The Special Task Force is the Para- Military arm of the Sri Lanka Police, deployed essentially for Counter Terrorist and counter insurgency operations within the country. They are also deployed in the close protection Units, providing security for VIP's and key installations.
The nucleus for the Special Task Force (STF) was formed in 1983, drawing on Policemen already in service and having them trained by the Army in the handling of infantry weapons and given basic training in "jungle warfare technique" The first few platoons formed were deployed mainly to provide support for Police Stations in the North of Sri Lanka.
The level of the STF was considerably enhanced in 1983 with the introduction of crack former Special Air Service (SAS) teams to provide specialized training in all aspects of counter insurgency and Counter Terrorist operations.
By the year 1987, the STF had taken over the control of the Batticaloa Division from Kiran, right down to Pothuvil in the South and were deployed in Company formation in no less than 15 caps, when the Indian peace Keeping Force was conducted into Sri Lanka, the STF was dominating the ground in the Batticaloa Division, having scored several successes against the Terrorist groups. Trains and buses running as usual and having he proud record of not having a single STF camp come under attack from the LTTE from 1983 right up to the time that the IPKF moved into the Batticaloa Division.
As the STF grew in number, they took on the added responsibilities of providing protection to key installations in the Colombo District and providing personnel for the protection of the President, Prime Minister, several Ministers of the Cabinet and other VIPP.
The Special Task Force is the Para- Military arm of the Sri Lanka Police, deployed essentially for Counter Terrorist and counter insurgency operations within the country. They are also deployed in the close protection Units, providing security for VIP's and key installations.
The nucleus for the Special Task Force (STF) was formed in 1983, drawing on Policemen already in service and having them trained by the Army in the handling of infantry weapons and given basic training in "jungle warfare technique" The first few platoons formed were deployed mainly to provide support for Police Stations in the North of Sri Lanka.
The level of the STF was considerably enhanced in 1983 with the introduction of crack former Special Air Service (SAS) teams to provide specialized training in all aspects of counter insurgency and Counter Terrorist operations.
By the year 1987, the STF had taken over the control of the Batticaloa Division from Kiran, right down to Pothuvil in the South and were deployed in Company formation in no less than 15 caps, when the Indian peace Keeping Force was conducted into Sri Lanka, the STF was dominating the ground in the Batticaloa Division, having scored several successes against the Terrorist groups. Trains and buses running as usual and having he proud record of not having a single STF camp come under attack from the LTTE from 1983 right up to the time that the IPKF moved into the Batticaloa Division.
As the STF grew in number, they took on the added responsibilities of providing protection to key installations in the Colombo District and providing personnel for the protection of the President, Prime Minister, several Ministers of the Cabinet and other VIPP.
I'm not sure if you can call the STF a paramilitary outfit as that term is usually reserved for armed organizations that are not part of the official forces but which operate with the tacit approval of the govt.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE STF IN SRI LANKA.I AM PRUD TO BE A SL MUSLIM,I HATE PRABKARAN,,,RAT
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