28 March, 2024

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Sri Lankan Army Still Has Vast Presence In North & East

By Nirupama Subramanian –

More than three years after winning the war against the LTTE, the Sri Lankan Army retains an overwhelming presence in the North and East of the island, deploying 16 out of its 19 divisions in the Tamil-dominated regions.

Information available with The Hindu indicates that besides three divisions in Jaffna, there are three each in Killinochchi and Mullaithivu, while five divisions are stationed in Vavuniya. Another two divisions are deployed in the East. Three divisions are headquartered in southern Sri Lanka.

The information, from an internal Sri Lankan military document showing the deployment in a series of maps for a PowerPoint presentation, is for the month of June 2012, but there have been no significant changes since then.

Read more in The Hindu

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Latest comments

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    RAJAPAKSE BROTHERS LIMITED IS NOT IN A POSITION TO WITHDRAW UNEDUCATED MISBEHAVING SINGALA ARMYMEN FROM NORTH EAST AND HAVE GIVEN THEM FREE HAND TO DO BUSINESS AND SEXUALLY ABUSING TAMIL LADIES AND STUDENTS SO THAT THEY WILL BE HAPPY AND WILL NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO SOUTH WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE IN POSITION TO MAKE EXTRA MONEY AND SEXUAL PLESURE AS THEY ARE ENJOYING FREELY IN NORT EAST PARTCULLALY IN VANNI-JAYAWEWA SAADU SAADU

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      The militarization is to ensure that the is no regime change in Lanka and Rajapakse is king forever!
      Rajapakse regime showed their military might during the Commonwealth Parliament Circus in Colombo recently that was supported by Britain, India and other countries that are into militarizing themselves, their neighbours and the world! They also made clear to protesting students and academics that the military will be rolled out against them if they protest on the streets!
      Post-war militarization is for Rajapakse security to loot Lanka and destroy democratic opposition with impunity – nothing else!

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    Having driven around the area earlier this year (in April) I can say that in Jaffna in particular, the SLA presence is VERY minimal. The Fort area of Colombo is the most heavily militarized zone of the country, not the Vanni or Jaffna.

    And GOSL must remain ever vigilant in the North, despite pressures from overseas, as the various Tamil militant cadres are regrouping and just waiting for a relaxation of security before launching Ealam War V. When Pottu gives the order from his refuge in Tamil Nadu or Toronto, that is to say.

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    American Lanka Lover:

    “The Fort area of Colombo is the most heavily militarized zone of the country, not the Vanni or Jaffna.”

    Therefore in order to maintain parity between Colombo and Jaffna lets have more militarisation in Jaffna. It shows one’s insatiable appetite for unlimited control over people, property, their land and livelihood and their culture.

    You are suppose to figure out how best to demilitarise the whole island. Being a stupid Sinhalese you would not understand the importance of freedom although you have grown to love American way of life, which means militarisation of rest of the world.

    You say:

    “When Pottu gives the order from his refuge in Tamil Nadu or Toronto, that is to say.”

    Pottu lives comfortably in Gota’s house according to speculation among uninformed sources. Most Sinhalese that I meet believe Gota is saving him for future use.

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    I thought that only the American Republicans are blind Didn’t know that the American lover is also blind.Long live the King Raja

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      Not only the Ugly American is blind the bugger is also Deaf and shameless. He is such an admirer of Gota he can be enlisted to fight the Eelam War V which he keeps reminding us all the time.

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    16 out of 19 Divisions located in the Tamil-majority areas of the NEP 3 years after the war was over??? Where is the culture for peace and reconciliation here? The Tamil people in the area are pleading to be free from the menacing glances, presence and harassment of the army after 30 years in particular (they have been there since 1962) But they continue to get more. You don’t need the army men for development work in those areas. If the army men have to be found jobs, as Gothabaya insists, they could be used to develop the Dry Zone, the UVA hinterland and other areas where agricultural development is a State priority.

    Senguttuvan

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    Let us talk a little bit about demilitarising Assam and Jammu-Kashmir.

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      Smile

      “Let us talk a little bit about demilitarising Assam and Jammu-Kashmir”

      Of course we should. You lead the way we will follow you. Let us meet the Hindians tell them off in no uncertain terms.

      However this is about my ancestral island. Let us deal with it first, talk about it all the time, not just a little bit.

      First we will consider the demilitarisatin of the whole of the island, then repatriation of Sinhalese and Tamils back to their mother country India.

      Once your people are back in India please do talk about demilitarising Assam and Jammu-Kashmir which I consider very reasonable.

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    For the umpteenth time I am Anglo, not Sinhalese nor Buddhist.

    I understand why the Fort must be so militarized given the ever present threat of terrorism at important economic targets, although the armed soldier preventing swimming in the sea at Galle Face Hotel seems a bit much.

    It is true that Pottu could possibly be hiding in plain sight in Colombo as you speculate, although the money and support base is in America, Canada and Europe. But under Gota’s protection? I think not. KP and Karunna yes, but the lanky genius no.

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    American Lanka Lover:

    “But under Gota’s protection? I think not. KP and Karunna yes, but the lanky genius no.”

    Never say No, everything is possible in this island.

    Whether you are an Anglo, Sinhala/Buddhist or a Tamil/Saivite does not make much difference. AS far as I know all Lankies are stupid.

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      Hey American Lanka Lover,

      Lankies are wiser than the stupid Americans. That topic requires a separate discussion.

      The so called militarisation needs to be viewed within the context of 30 year conflict where a terrorist, racist organisation recognised as the most ruthless in the world, tried to territorially separate North & East of the country from the rest. In that process they completely cleansed the Northern province of communities other than Tamil and made it a 100% Tamil province. 3 years in that context is minute period and as a result SLA still is in an “operational readiness” posture. It will take much longer for SLA to pull back. In any case a permanent presence in some way (like in the rest of the country) is a necessity. The agenda of Tamil political leadership and well organised diaspora including foreign inteference (Tamilnadu included) will determine the length of time that the “operational readiness” mode would prevail.

      The other context is a historically comparative context with rest of the world. Sri Lanka has moved much faster than all other similar conflicts in the world in moving back to some form of normalcy. No other country has moved in to demilitarisation in such a short period.

      Accordingly, the campaign for demilitarisation seems to be based on other sinister considerations which the people of the country need to be ever vigilant.

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        Other than the first sentence, which is so absurd it needs no rebuttal, I completely agree with your post.

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    Sri lanka is one country therefore no issues at all where its legitimate army is based ,people who have corrupted minds should only be warried about the army

  • 0
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    Can you write an article with statistics to prove showing the figures that Yapapatuna or any so -called Tamil areas are the most militarized and not any other areas in Sri Lanka ?

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