A Salute to Fallen War Heroes

The Special Task Force ventured into combat operations knowing the risks and sacrifices required for such a profession. They freely offered themselves to serve their country for a mission that is larger than themselves. War takes a toll on the family, friends, and country. For those dealing with death there is burden, loss, and grief. Today we tell you the story of fallen heroes’ one name at a time, the story of courageous Special Task Force men who answered the call to defend Sri Lanka, the constitution and national security interests. It is the valiant who committed their life to sharpening their combat skills and who wore their uniform with pride. One day they ventured off with other comrades, side-by side, to uphold and defend the ideals of freedom and democracy though it cost them their lives.

Sri Lanka was challenged with many forms of internal insurgency from the South and later the North. In order to counter this, the Police Department under the guidance of

Monumnet at Katukurunda Academy.

the late Ravi Jayewardene, established the Special Task Force (STF). He is the founding father of the STF. These officers received training in counter-insurgency operations. The men and women serving within the STF have displayed high levels of teamwork and discipline. The STF can also be credited as the pioneers of VIP security in Sri Lanka. To date 464 Special Task Force personnel have been killed in the line of duty.

 

Brief History

As most of us recall, the 1980s was a period of volatile tension for this once tranquil island. Sri Lanka was about to witness the bloom of organised subversive threats from the North and the South. By 1983, some of the police stations in the Northern Province were under attack by small arms and rifle fire. Policemen in the Northern Province needed the support and firepower of a professionally trained unit from within the police. At this early stage a Special Strike Group (SSG) was set up consisting of 60 men under SSP Bodhi Liyanage. This was the predecessor to the Special Task Force. The STF was later deployed to the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Soon the STF gained the trust and appreciation of the Batticaloa region. They realized the importance of winning the hearts and minds of the Tamil, Sinhalese and Muslim people. Gradually the STF began using M-16 assault rifles and Browning pistols. The gabardine (khaki) uniform was replaced with jungle camouflage uniforms and the Green Beret, which is the trademark attire of the Police Special Task Force. This uniform would become a visual symbol of trust and safety for the Sri Lankans, during those turbulent days. It must be emphasized that the STF has operated with strict discipline, teamwork and professionalism.

STF Commandant with an injured War  Hero.

Another key fact must be brought to the readers. When the LTTE desired for peace talks, Anton Balasingham (Chief Negotiator LTTE) had requested that when they come to Colombo, they should be protected only by the STF. This shows the respect that even the LTTE had for the STF. Subsequently the LTTE delegation flew in by a seaplane to the Iranamadu Lake in Kilinochchi. They were safely brought to a Five-Star hotel in Colombo. They had a communication operator codenamed Jude. The then STF Commandant SSP Zernie Wijesuriya, showed kindness to Jude and somehow managed to get the communication code used by the LTTE. This was later used to intercept messages. DIG Zernie Wijesuriya passed away last year. This was how the STF used wisdom to subtly overcome the enemy.

Over the past three decades, the men and women of the STF have steadily grown into a fully fledged police counter-terrorism force, having successfully progressed into specialized units. Their prowess in VVIP security operations has been globally endorsed, and they were consulted to share their insight at the Beijing Olympics. The VIP Security Division has had the distinction of guarding many foreign Heads of State and Prime Ministers, Pope John Paul 11 and high-profile sports teams during their visit to Sri Lanka. The STF played a key role in the security of the Commonwealth Heads Meeting (CHOGM) held at the BMICH.

Another vital team that performed a great service to this country was the STF Bomb Disposal Team. The team has since expanded as the Counter Terrorist Bomb Disposal Unit (CTBD) using world-class bomb detection technology, alongside trained sniffer dogs and their handlers. This team saved lives by neutralizing the second vehicle bomb near St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade, during the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The CTBD specializes in conducting perimeter search operations.

For the past 30 years, the Special Task Force has been the primary service branch that dedicatedly searched and protected the Parliament of Sri Lanka, thus enabling them to operate with maximum safety.

The global security landscape remains inundated with threats like CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives). Another significant unit within the Special Task Force is the dynamic SWAT team, trained and modeled on the American SWAT concept. The STF has qualified parachute jumpers and snipers.

Fallen Heroes

The first fatal incident in the STF claimed the life of 4 sergeants in Jaffna, in a landmine blast on September 1, 1984. This date is remembered as the STF hero’s day. Chief Inspector Ashok Kumara and Inspector Renuka Karunaratne were killed in explosions in the Eastern Province, whilst operating in the jungle in Kanchikuddichiaru area. Inspector Bathiya Sandanayake lost his life when he was accompanying an IPKF convoy that was attacked on the Batticaloa–Trincomalee Road.

STF officers at a funeral.

Among these heroes, few outstanding officers gallantly died in action. The first was ASP Sarath Mahinda Ratnaweerage (who was in the close protection team of the President). ASP Sarath Mahinda died bravely and was posthumously promoted to the rank of SP. The explosion also killed Chief Inspector Upali Silva of the STF. SSP Ronnie Gunasinghe and SSP Sirimal Perera (attached to the Presidents Security Division of then President R. Premadasa) were also killed in the May Day bomb blast 1993.

The other senior STF officers who died in separate attack were SSP Upali Sahabandu and SSP Upul Seneviratne - both were posthumously promoted to the rank of DIG. The great work done by the late DIG Sahabandu to uplift the STF Training Academy at Katukurunda will be remembered for decades. It must be mentioned that the Katukurunda Teachers Training School was given to the STF to set up their training academy, by the then Minister of Education Ranil Wickremesinghe, incumbent President of Sri Lanka. Then Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe realized the importance of establishing this academy for the STF.

Truly remembering means that after the STF fallen heroes sacrificed everything in the line of duty we support them.

Farewell salute to a fallen War Hero.

Through the STF welfare programme 18 teenagers of fallen heroes are being supported at university level. Another 70 school students of fallen heroes are also being supported by the STF welfare initiative. Corporate companies interested in helping these children can contact the STF Welfare Division. Some selected families of fallen heroes are being supported to engage in farming and vegetable cultivation.

Artificial legs for amputees, who engaged in direct combat is being given on time, as these artificial legs have to be replaced every three years.

The present Commandant of the STF DIG Waruna Jayasundara has initiated these projects. We remember our fallen Special Task Force heroes not just by saluting them on this day but by sharing their stories and being there to ensure their families welfare. They served Sri Lanka without fear. Their memory will remain forever.

(Photo credits - SI Gamini Pitagampala)