7th January 2001

No ceasefire before talks, CBK assures service chiefs

• The nation must rally behind the security forces: Army Chief
• Fighting crime top priority: IGP

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was in a bouyant mood when the National Security Council met for the fist time last Thursday at Janadhipathi Mandiraya.

She congratulated the security forces for their latest victory which has led to almost the entire Jaffna peninsula coming within their control. Stage eight of 'Operation Kiniheera' secured the Navatkuli bridge, Ariyalai and Thanankilappu thus ousting the LTTE from holding any territory in the Jaffna district. But a few areas in the peninsula, south of Eluthumaduval and south of Nagar Kovil, on the north-eastern coast, remain in the hands of the LTTE.

She also had a word of appreciation for the Army leadership for promptly responding to the incident where eight civilians were allegedly murdered by Army personnel. On Christmas Day, the Operational Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence admitted it had come to know that eight displaced persons, who were then living in Nelliady, had gone missing. In another news release on the same day, it admitted the eight bodies, said to be those of the missing persons, were recovered by the Police and the Military Police.

This action was in marked contrast to the Bindunuwewa massacre. The Army's prompt response not only demonstrated it would act immediately on complaints of indiscipline, but obviated more damage, both to the security forces and the Government.

If these were assuring remarks to the service chiefs, a more comforting assurance was to follow from President Kumaratunga. She said her Government would not accept the LTTE's offer of a unilateral cease-fire and hence there was no impediment to further military operations. She said a cease-fire would be considered only after talks proper get underway between the Government and the LTTE. With Norwegian facilitator Erik Solheim due in Colombo this week for further talks, a categorical assurance to service chiefs laid to rest speculation and doubts about Government policy.

Just a day ahead, Cabinet Ministers had also discussed the LTTE's unilateral cease-fire offer and concluded it would not be accepted pronto. It became Information and Media Minister, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa's task to announce this at the first weekly Cabinet news briefing for the New Year held on Friday. He said there would be no ceasefire. It was only weeks earlier that Mr. Yapa himself declared 'the declaration of a ceasefire by the LTTE could be a productive exercise.' But now, productive or otherwise, he has made it clear on behalf of the Government there would be no acceptance.

None other than Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle, told The Sunday Times 'As I see it, they have repeated their regular call for peace talks and a ceasefire in order to gain time, to recruit new cadres, re-group them, re-train the present cadres. They want to obtain more sophisticated weaponry and ammunition so they will be better prepared to take on the security forces.' (See interview on this page)

Lt. Gen. Balagalle is not alone in this assertion. At least two of the Government's leading intelligence agencies have come up with evidence that the LTTE is acquiring new military hardware abroad in a bid to counter the enhanced fire power of the security forces. They were also on a recruitment campaign and were re-training their existing cadres to meet the newer threats they face. These agencies concluded that the LTTE required time and the unilateral ceasefire offer helped them.

With this in the backdrop, the Council focused on future plans of the security forces to evict the LTTE from areas they hold in the peninsula and the north.

For Deputy Minister of Defence Anuruddha Ratwatte, it was the first meeting he was taking part since taking his oaths belatedly last month. Though not playing an active role since his re-appointment, he has been keeping tabs on the developing security situation. He was a notable absentee when service chiefs toured battle areas in the Jaffna peninsula or chairing regular conferences where day to day requirements of the security forces were discussed in the recent weeks.

The Sunday Times has learnt that the move is a prelude to a one-on-one meeting Minister Ratwatte is to have shortly with President Kumaratunga. The idea is to not only clarify important issues but also matters relating to key functions.

Minister Ratwatte, among other matters, is learnt to be concerned about several issues concerning Police inaction, rising crime and the consequent problems the Government is facing. He has voiced fears there will come a time when the Government's own writ will not run if there is a serious break-down in the law and order situation. He is conscious not to go public on the issue since he is also personally embroiled in a controversy with the Police after his son was arrested over incidents in Kandy that followed the General Election. With regard to mounting crime and related activity criticism has been levelled at various DIGs, some in the City suburbs and outstations, over their conduct which was bringing the Government into ridicule and disrepute. The names of a few have been personally examined and transfers are not ruled out.

President Kumaratunga also demonstrated her determination to curb the rising crime rate. This, she did, when she met Inspector General of Police, Lucky Kodituwakku, for a discussion soon after the National Security Council meeting.

Mr Kodituwakku, who turns 60 years today, had put up his papers to retire from office on Saturday. He did not seek an extension of his term like his predecessor, W.B. Rajaguru who instead of placing his papers for retirement had made a written appeal for a one year extension which was granted. President Kumaratunga urged Mr. Kodituwakku to serve the Government for a further period of one year.

Mr. Kodituwakku told The Sunday Times his immediate priority in the coming weeks would be to adopt more tough measures to curb rising crime. (See his remarks in box story on this page).

The extension of Mr. Kodituwakku's service by another year lays to rest speculation on other aspirants for the IGP's post. With the exception of Mr. Kodituwakku, the next senior-most officers in line are A.S. Seneviratne, DIG, H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya, DIG followed by T.E. Anandarajah, also DIG. Although the last named was a strong favourite at one point, his appointment, Defence Ministry sources said, posed legal snags.

Another newcomer to last Thursday's National Security Council meeting was the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri. With barely two weeks in office, he has been busy acclimatising himself with recent developments in the Navy.

It transpired last week that Vice Admiral Sandagiri had not been kept briefed about some very important developments including procurements and the move to set up the Navy's Air Wing. He received his first official briefing only last week, only after becoming Commander, and is learnt to have been shocked about the colossal amounts of money the SLN would have to spend on this Wing. Besides, it transpired that if the SLN were to have its own fully fledged Air Wing, they would be duplicating the work of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

A full report on the matter is to be submitted by Vice Admiral Sandagiri to the Ministry of Defence shortly.

Now that doubts in the security establishment over the ceasefire is clear, there would be more action in the battlefield. Similarly, there would also be more action on the peace front too with Mr. Solheim doing his shuttle diplomacy to facilitate talks between the Government and the LTTE.

The nation must rally behind the security forces:
Army Chief

The Sri Lanka Army has re-captured almost all the areas in the Jaffna peninsula, seized by Tiger guerrillas during attacks that began in April last year. The only remaining area in the peninsula is an extent of over 30 square kilometres south of Eluthuma-duval and a small stretch south of Nagar Kovil, in the north-east coast.

Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle, spoke to The Sunday Times about the latest success.

Q: What does the success in the peninsula mean ?

A: From what we were six months ago, most of us and the country were in doubt whether the military could hold. Things have changed. I am sure they are now confident they could. Many things have contributed to this.

Among them: provision of new equipment and additional fire-power, good planning and co-ordination by field commanders, intelligent use of available resources including air, artillery, engineers and not to forget the Sri Lanka Navy to whatever extent possible depending on the type of operations.

Troops, motivated by good leadership, training and well rehearsed operations have adequate confidence to go ahead. Morale is very high.

Q: In this backdrop, there is criticism in some quarters about the arrest of a group of soldiers for the disappearance of eight civilians. They claim it affects morale. What do you say to this?

A: I am afraid I have to disagree with those who think that way. I have always believed, and continue to believe, that we are not fighting against the Tamil community. We are only trying to quell a kind of war imposed on us by a ruthless terrorist organisation called the LTTE. It is difficult to convince many to see reason.

Yet, we have to be convinced in our own minds that we are doing the right thing. The security forces are morally obliged and duty bound to safeguard the innocent civilians. In this case, it is the Tamil public, who are very unfortunately caught up in this war.

The Army will continue to deal with offenders and discipline will remain a sine qua non.

Q: When you re-commenced offensive operations in September last year, there were high casualties. In marked contrast, recent operations have seen the LTTE making withdrawals. How do you explain this ?

A: Both are inter-connected. During the early stages, the LTTE was confident they can hold the ground and finally capture Jaffna. We had to break that stance. Our valiant troops faced the enemy and caused them heavy casualties when they captured lost ground.

Although we too had casualties at the initial stages, it paid in the end because the LTTE was convinced that we could not hold ground without sacrificing large number of cadres. Hence, the decision to withdraw. It was purely to save manpower, in spite of the loss of face in the eyes of the public, particularly the Tamils.

Q: What do you expect the LTTE would do next ?

A: To my mind, they have already started what they should do next. Firstly, they have begun forced recruitment of youth, particularly under 16 years and attending school.

They are also in the process of recruiting between the age groups of 16 to 45 for a Youth Force. They are being given physical training and arms training thereafter. They have also recruited those over 46 years for propaganda activity, particularly to encourage children to join their cadres.

As I see it, they have repeated their regular call for peace talks and cease-fires in order to gain time, to recruit new cadres, re-group them, re-train the present cadres as well as to obtain more sophisticated weaponry and ammunition. This is to make them better prepared to take on the security forces. They have made a joke of their own so-called unilaterally imposed cease-fire by violating it repeatedly. We can cite many instances to prove they have violated what they declared on their own. That shows they are not sincere.

Q: Now that you have regained almost the entirety of the peninsula, will the LTTE have the capacity to once again seize large chunks of territory ?

A: I do not think so. They have sacrificed so much of manpower and they found it difficult to recruit more numbers. People in the north and east have lost their confidence in them and the expatriate community has begun to lose faith in them. It has dawned on them that the LTTE is incapable of achieving Eelam.

Q: What makes you confident things will continue to change in favour of the Sri Lanka Army in the weeks and months ahead ?

A: It is true that the Army has had many reversals from November 1999 until May, 2000. This was initially in the Wanni and later in the Jaffna peninsula.

But today, the situation has changed drastically in favour of the security forces. I have set out the reasons in answer to other questions. Things will continue to improve. I am proud to say our soldiers are brimming with confidence and their high morale will help us forge ahead. We are also looking after the welfare of the soldiers. President Kumaratunga has set up the Ranaviru Seva Authority (RSA) which is of immense benefit to the soldiers.

Q: Now that most of the peninsula is in your hands, what about Elephant Pass ?

A: Well, we all know that the re-capture of Elephant Pass is a matter of prestige. It may not be essential to capture Elephant Pass in order to defeat the LTTE. We would like to keep our options open for the time being.

Q: Your recent recruitment drive fell short of your expectations. What do you say to this ?

A: I feel confident to say it is at a time like this that the nation must rally behind the security forces and contribute in whatever way they can so the war will be won and the country stands together. We have sacrificed so much and we may have to do so in the future.

In this effort, a large number of parents have consented and encouraged their children to join the security forces, particularly the Sri Lanka Army and they continue to do so. The nation needs that commitment and contribution.

I appeal to parents to make every endeavour to enable at least one member of their family to join the security forces. I am able to say it boldly to the parents because I encouraged my son to join the Army. He is now a serving officer.

Fighting crime top priority: IGP

Inspector General of Police, Lucky Kodituwakku, who celebrats his 60th birthday today, has been called upon by the Government to serve a further year.

This was after he put up his papers for retirement and was to relinquish duties on January 6.

A call to continue in service was made on Thursday by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, soon after a meeting of the National Security Council. The Cabinet is learnt to have unanimously approved the extended term upon a recommendation by President Kumaratunga.

Unlike some of his predecessors, Mr Kodituwakku had not sought an extension but put up his papers to retire from January 6. This was in marked contrast to the former IGP, W.B. Rajaguru, who made a written appeal for an extension of his term soon after he reached the age of 60. The request was allowed and he served a further year.

Benjamin Lakdasa Victor de Silva Kodituwakku , a Bachelor of Commerce with post graduate qualifications joined the Police Service on November 1, 1966. He has served as the Police Chief since 1998.

'My most immediate priority will be to cope with the mounting crime', Mr. Kodituwakku told The Sunday Times. He said he would summon a conference of his DIGs in the coming week to formulate urgent measures. 'The most important thing we need is public co-operation,' he said.

Mr Kodituwakku said in the Colombo Division, several measures have already been set in motion to curb the mounting crime. In the outstations, however, the lack of strength was posing some constraints but tougher measures will be adopted, he said.

The Fifth Column

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