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Special Task Force
Active	1983; 42 years ago (1983)
Country	Sri Lanka
Branch	Sri Lanka Police
Type	Police tactical unit
Size	~8000 (2017)
Nickname(s)	STF
Motto(s)	නියතයි ජය (Sinhala: Victory Assured)
Colours	Marine Green; Gold
Anniversaries	1 March
Engagements	Sri Lankan Civil War Second JVP insurrection
Commanders
Commandant	Waruna Jayasundara
Inspector General of Police	Deshabandu Tennakoon
Insignia
Ensign

The Special Task Force (STF) (Sinhala: විශේෂ කාර්ය බලකාය Visesha Karya Balakaya; Tamil: சிறப்பு அதிரடிப் படை) is the tier one police tactical unit of the Sri Lanka Police specialising in anti-irregular military, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, clandestine and covert operations, combat and patrolling in urban areas, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis managements, crowd control, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, indirect fire for support operations, irregular warfare, operating in difficult to access terrain, protecting high-level meeting areas, search and rescue people who are in distress or imminent danger from disaster, support crowd control and riot control, tactical special operations, and other tasks requiring special training. It was formed in 1983 not as a military force, but rather as a highly specialised armed police unit.

Function

The STF is spearhead primarily involve anti-irregular military, counterinsurgency, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis managements, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, operating in difficult to access and extremely dangerous areas, protecting high-level meeting areas, serving high-risk arrest and search warrants, and special operations that are extremely high-risk and dangerous – as the most highly trained police organisation in Sri Lanka – it would be the lead unit whenever law enforcement forces engaged the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The STF is mostly stationed in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka where the LTTE was wiped out. Some small number of units are placed in Mannar District and Vavuniya District.

Other units are based in Colombo and provide VIP security. The STF is internationally recognised for its expertise in these areas and it is often invited to assist foreign law enforcement agencies with planning major events such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics and in dealing with possible terrorist threats.

Formation

When the Special Task Force (STF) was formed in 1983, it comprised mainly existing policemen. It was headed by the 1960 Rome Olympian and existing Senior Superintendent of Police, Dharmasiri Weerakoon. The STF were trained by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the handling of small arms and light weapons and were given basic training in jungle warfare and small unit tactics.

They deeply resemble a paramilitary organisation and later separate training facilities for the STF have been established in Kalutara, 42 km (26 mi) south of Colombo. The first platoons formed were deployed in the North of Sri Lanka to provide additional support for police stations and to stem the LTTE separatists.

The STF was enhanced considerably in 1983 when former British Army Special Air Service (SAS) crack teams were brought in to provide specialised training in all aspects of counterinsurgency, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis managements, and executive protection. The SAS experts trained the STF troops at Katukurunda wing of the Police College, after making the training school into a sophisticated training complex. Further training was provided with assistance of Keenie Meenie Services in 1984.

Later, the STF experts took over from the SAS in 1988. Today the STF has a fully-fledged training wing, regarded as one of the best in South East Asia. 11 August 1984, that the Israel Security Agency Shin Beth was involved in the training of the Sri Lankan armed forces. Many officers belonging to Israel were also involved in the training of the Sri Lankan soldiers in Colombo.

In 2008, the STF received P2 APCs from Indonesia made by Sentra Surya Ekajaya to help the unit conduct their counterinsurgency operations against the LTTE.

Operations

By 1987, heavily involved in the Sri Lankan civil war, the STF was in control of the area from Kiran to Potuvil in the Batticaloa District. The STF was deployed in Company formation into 15 separate camps. When the Indian Peace Keeping Force was moved into the Batticaloa in 1987 as part of the ongoing peace process, the STF was in complete control of Batticoloa, and had restored a level of normalcy to the area. From 1983 to 1987 when the STF was in control over Batticoloa not a single STF camp had come under attack from the LTTE.

In 2019 STF involved in 2019 Kalmunai shootout.

Operation Niyathai Jaya (Definite Victory)

In its first major operation since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 2002, Special Task Force troops launched a limited offensive named "Definite Victory" (In Sinhala: නියතයිි ජය) on January 4, 2007 against LTTE rebels in the Kanchikudichcharu and Thoppigala south regions of the Ampara District, as a reaction to the child abductions in Bakmitiyawa, Ampara and abduction of two teachers and 23 Tamil children in December 2006 while they were returning from extra classes to their homes.

As a result of this offensive, the elite police commandos were able to overrun more than fifteen (15) rebel camps including the Stanly Base, which was the main LTTE camp in the Ampara District and a regional intelligence and supply camp of the LTTE, Bagayadi Base, where local and foreign foodstuffs and sanitary material was stored, Janak Base, which made clothing identical to Sri Lanka Army and Special Task Force uniforms, Jeewan Base, which was another supply camp from which the STF was able to recover four vehicles and the Diana Base where LTTE leaders meet. This camp was furnished with luxury items which were denied to the ordinary LTTE cadres.

After the fall of Stanly Base, STF troops were able to find an explosive laden truck and a motor cycle that the rebels were planning to use to carry out suicide attacks in the capital of Colombo. And it is also reported that LTTE was housing a large number of child soldiers conscripted by them in this camp. Other than that, STF troops were able to recover a large quantity of arms and ammunition, coffins, large number of anti-personnel mines, vehicles , satellite and radio receivers, global positioning systems, power generators, boats with name and logo of the Non Governmental Organization "Save the Children", tents with the logo of "UNHCR" and a fully equipped hospital donated to the militants by a Dutch INGO named ZOA Refugee Care This NGO donated hospital is named by the tigers as Thileepan memorial hospital. STF also said that they also found a water tanker truck donated by, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) which is a front organisation of the LTTE, who collect funds especially in the United States and Canada purportedly for civilians, but actually for the militant group. However, aid workers argue that the supplies must have been taken after they evacuated their office due to heavy fighting. Jeevan Thiagarajah, the head of the Consortium for Humanitarian Agencies, has stated that the matter is simply a misunderstanding.

As a result of this mission STF troops able to kill four rebels and the STF commented that the militants were fleeing from the area without retaliating against their troops.

Criticism

The Special Task Force has been accused of various human rights abuses including extrajudicial killings and involvement in the disappearance of individuals.

• According to a United Nations commissioned study conducted in 1997, the STF was the arresting agency in 5% of the 1219 reported cases of disappearances in the Batticaloa district in North Eastern Province between 1988 and 1996.
• Additionally, after a visit to Sri Lanka from 24 August to 5 September in the same year, UN Special Rapporteur Bacre Waly Ndiaye reported the existence of allegations that individuals had died "while in the custody of the Special Task Force of Sri Lanka in Colombo".
• At least two incidents of extrajudicial killings involving members of the STF have also been noted by the Sri Lankan government or outside observers. Following the newest round of fighting between the government and the LTTE starting in April 1994, the mutilated bodies of between 21 and 31 Tamil males were discovered in rivers and lakes near Colombo.
• On 17 August ten STF officers (and fifteen others) were charged with committing the murders, which allegedly took place at the STF headquarters in Colombo. In addition, at least 17 extrajudicial killings were carried out by Sri Lankan security forces (including the STF) in Eastern Province in retaliation for LTTE attacks. Human rights monitors determined the deceased to be civilians, but security forces maintained that they were LTTE members.

Commandants of the Special Task Force

Equipment

Armoured vehicles

• Unibuffel – Mine-protected APC
• Land Rover Defender
• Unicorn APC
• P2 APC

Amphibious vehicles

• Disaster Management Amphibious Multi Unit Vehicles

Weapons

Mortars

• Type 84 (W84) 82 mm mortars
• Type 89 60 mm mortars

Small arms

Further reading

• The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of U.S. Warfare by James F. Dunnigan

References

1. "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Sri Lanka". U.S. State Department. 28 February 2005.
2. "The Deadly Mahasohon Brigade". StrategyWorld.com. September 19, 2007. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013.
3. "Sri Lankan anti-terror police to advise on Beijing Olympics". Associated Press. 8 November 2006.
4. "Strength, Sri Lanka". Photius Coutsoukis. 12 November 2004.
5. "Military Balance, Sri Lanka". Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. 1 December 2002. Archived from the original on 2 October 2006.
6. "British mercenaries investigated over Sri Lanka war crimes". BBC News. 30 November 2020.
7. "Sri Lanka: The untold story". Asia Times. 26 October 2001. Archived from the original on 16 April 2002.
8. "Menhan Tinjau Panser Produksi Dalam Negeri" (in Indonesian). 2008-05-12. Archived from the original on 2009-03-07. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
9. "Nuda Veritas on The Muslim Factor". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. 15 November 2002.
10. "Commandos take eight Tiger bases in Sri Lanka". Zee News. 13 January 2007.
11. "Torture chambers used by Tamil LTTE found: Defense Ministry". Lankaeverything. 16 January 2007.
12. ^ "MCNS – PRESS BRIEFING". Media Center for National Security. 17 January 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007.
13. Sirilal, Ranga (16 January 2007). "Sri Lanka says captures Tiger lines, kills 30 rebels". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
14. "Sri Lankan military seizes more camps of rebel LTTE". Kuwait News Agency. 14 January 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-16.
15. ^ "Elite commando forces of the police over runs a large Tamil Tiger base in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka". To The Center. 8 January 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
16. "Tamil Tigers in a death groan in the East of Sri Lanka, after the STF capture of Janak Camp in Amparai". Asian Tribune. 12 January 2007.
17. "Three LTTE camps tumble as STF advances in the East". Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka. 13 January 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
18. "Sri Lanka commandos capture truck packed with Tamil explosives". The China Post. 12 January 2007.
19. "Rebel base falls in east Sri Lanka". United Press International. 12 January 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
20. "Rebel's camp captured in Sri Lanka's east". People's Daily Online. 11 January 2007.
21. "Sri Lanka probes aid groups for suspected rebel links". Reuters. 11 January 2007.
22. "INGO Tsunami Aid Found in Newly Captured LTTE's 'JANAK' Camp". Media Center for National Security. 11 January 2007. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009.
23. "Colombo tightens transport security". Gulf Times Newspaper. 10 January 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
24. "Sri Lanka probes aid groups for suspected rebel links". Reuters. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-10.
25. "Elite police overrun top rebel base in east Sri Lanka, says military". The International Herald Tribune. 8 January 2007.
26. "CHAPTER 3: BATTICALOA DISTRICT". Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Involuntary Removal or Disappearance of Persons in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. September 1997. Archived from the original on 2006-10-24. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
27. "Sri Lanka: Thematic Reports – Mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights". Human Right Internet. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
28. "Sri Lanka Assessment: April 2000 - Country Information and Policy Unit" (PDF). London, U.K.: Home Office. April 2000. p. 25. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
29. U.S. Department of State (March 1996). "Sri Lanka Human Rights Practices, 1995". Archived from the original on 2007-03-10. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
30. McDonald, James F. (November 1995). "AIUSA testimony – Sri Lanka". InfoLanka. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
31. "Picture Report | www.defence.lk". www.defence.lk. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
32. Publisher : Citadel, Year:(June 1, 2003), Language: English, ISBN 0-8065-2415-4 / ISBN 978-0-8065-2415-3

External links

• President of Sri Lanka Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
• Government of Sri Lanka
• Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka
• Sri Lankan Police Official Website
• Official History
• SpecialOperations.com
• 'You give us courage, fortitude to safeguard country's unity and territorial integrity'
• Sri Lanka Police Official Website excerpt
• 21st Commemoration of STF war heroes : 'You give us courage, fortitude to safeguard country's unity and territorial integrity'

v t e Sri Lankan civil war (1983–2009)
Origins	Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism Sinhala Only Act 1956 1958 Vaddukoddai Resolution 1977 1981 Burning of Jaffna Library Black July
Combatants	Sri Lanka Army (LRRP) Navy Air Force Police Special Task Force Home Guards Attacks on civilians Assassinations LTTE Divisions Air Tigers Sea Tigers Black Tigers Attacks in the 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Assassinations Suicide bombings Other militants (list) ENDLF ENLF EPRLF EROS PLOTE TELO  India Indian Peace Keeping Force Paramilitary groups EPDP TMVP
Phases	Eelam War I Indian intervention Eelam War II III IV Eastern / Northern theatres
Major battles	Kokkilai Vadamarachchi Poomalai Pawan Jaffna University Helidrop Balavegaya 1st Elephant Pass Pooneryn Riviresa 1st Mullaitivu Weli Oya Sath Jaya Vavunathivu Jayasikurui Thandikulam–Omanthai 1st Kilinochchi Oddusuddan A-9 highway 2nd Elephant Pass Bandaranaike Airport attack Point Pedro Jaffna Thoppigala Vidattaltivu 2nd Kilinochchi 2nd Mullaitivu Puthukkudiyirippu
Major events	Air Lanka Flight 512 Indo-Sri Lanka Accord Expulsions from Northern province Assassination of Lalith Athulathmudali Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination of Ranasinghe Premadasa Temple of the Tooth attack Lionair Flight 602 Bandaranaike Airport attack Expulsions from Colombo 2009 suicide air raid on Colombo
Leaders	Sri Lanka Military Army Tissa Weeratunga Nalin Seneviratne Hamilton Wanasinghe Cecil Waidyaratne G. H. De Silva Rohan Daluwatte Srilal Weerasooriya L. P. Balagalle Shantha Kottegoda Sarath Fonseka Navy Asoka de Silva H. A. Silva Clancy Fernando D. A. M. R. Samarasekara H. C. A. C. Thisera Daya Sandagiri Wasantha Karannagoda Air Force Dick Perera Andibuduge Fernando Makalandage Gunawardena Oliver Ranasinghe Jayalath Weerakkody Donald Perera Roshan Goonetileke Civilian J. R. Jayewardene Ranasinghe Premadasa Dingiri Banda Wijetunga Chandrika Kumaratunga Mahinda Rajapaksa LTTE Militant Velupillai Prabhakaran Pottu Amman Soosai Karuna Amman Political Selvarasa Pathmanathan Anton Balasingham S. P. Thamilselvan India Military Harkirat Singh Ashok K. Mehta Kulwant Singh Depinder Singh Dalvir Singh Krishnaswamy Sundarji Civilian R. Venkataraman Rajiv Gandhi V. P. Singh Jyotindra Nath Dixit J. Jayalalithaa M. Karunanidhi Vaiko
Aftermath	Genocide Films NPC resolution LLRC Reactions (Protests) Remembrance Day UN Panel on Accountability War crimes Chemical weapons
Related topics	Casualties Assassinations Massacres Child soldiers Disappearances Office on Missing Persons Human rights Popular culture Terrorism Non-state State PTA Sexual violence Sixth Amendment Thirteenth Amendment 1988 Maldives coup attempt 1987–1989 JVP insurrection
Sri Lankan civil war at Wiktionary    Source texts at Wikisource    Textbooks at Wikibooks   Images and media at the Commons    Quotations at Wikiquote    News stories at Wikinews

• Sri Lanka Police units
• Counterterrorism in Sri Lanka
• Indian Peace Keeping Force