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SLA will not close camps in North: Army Commander

15 July 2018 02:01 pm - 29     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake today said in a media statement that as a responsible Army, SLA would not close down Army camps in the Northern Province as alleged by some media reports.

“The Army urges the public not to be misled by those unfounded and false media reports, but continue to repose the full confidence in the Army, considering its past services as well as the roles and tasks, now being performed across the country,” he said in the statement.

He said; “Under any circumstances the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) will not resort to any decisions that would pose a threat to national security, and it always prioritizes national security concerns, the Army commander said in a statement.

Sri Lanka Army is prepared round the clock to respond to all security requirements in the country. During the war, the Army adopting its own structural reforms succeeded in winning the war at that time. In similar vein, the Army while performing a gigantic role in development has thrown its full weight behind the government’s ongoing nation-building projects as the prime mover, the commander said.

“However, some opportunistic politicians and mass media organizations, envious of the Army’s commitment to the country’s future are in the practice of spreading malicious and false propaganda in order to inculcate the public with untruth and distortion regarding the ongoing rightsizing process of the Army,” the statement added.

“Lieutenant General Senanayake said that ‘right-sizing’ process has always been happening in the Army and had even taken place during the war and also in the post-war period before this one.

“Through that, the troops mainly deployed for administrative duties are relieved and mobilized for field duties to gain better productivity, thereby doubling their efficiency.
“This process does not allow any Army camp to be closed, but it instead enables the majority of troops in those camps be deployed for emergency disaster needs and nation-building tasks in an effective manner. Nevertheless, some false media reports try to claim that this process has led to a large let-up in the security arrangements in the North and East. It certainly is not a disbanding of battalions, but is only a restructuring with the intention of distributing human and material resources equally among other battalions,” the commander said.

Some of those media organizations, operating as cat’s paws of disgruntled politicians, are malicious towards various development projects, being undertaken by the majority of Army troops island-wide under the guidance of the President,” he said in the statement.


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  Comments - 29

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  • vithura Sunday, 15 July 2018 02:44 PM

    One would have thought strategic security decisions and the announcements thereof are matter for the defence minister and not the commander, whose input would of course be obtained by the defence minister in making such decisions.

    Mandayan Monday, 16 July 2018 12:40 AM

    That should be a political decision of the democratically elected government. How can you declare that and do you have constitutional power to do so?

    Lord Wolfstein Sunday, 15 July 2018 03:06 PM

    Who are you that you can make such decisions. Such decisions are made by the government or do you want to start a coup d'état

    Kathirgaman Sunday, 15 July 2018 03:16 PM

    For the moment you will not remove your 17 divisions of your arm forces.but the day will for UN to force you to remove.

    sathasivam Sunday, 15 July 2018 08:28 PM

    Kathrgaman. Since when are we under UN rule? We are an independent country and the UN has no authority to make decisions that effect the country, We are no banana republic to be ordered around by any external body.

    Banda Monday, 16 July 2018 06:13 AM

    Who cares about the UN F.... the Un this is our country we should let the Army do what is right and good to all Sri Lankans.

    Tom Cruse Jr Sunday, 15 July 2018 03:29 PM

    New PM

    Singhela Sunday, 15 July 2018 04:15 PM

    The Army is entitled to be present in any part of the country. There should be no 'NO GO AREAS' for our citizens, Law enforcement authorities or National defence forces.

    raj Sunday, 15 July 2018 09:32 PM

    but army has no right to dictate what government must do regarding their policy,

    surath Sunday, 15 July 2018 04:22 PM

    Wait and see how true his statements are.Even Panagoda camp can be released to original land owners now.

    Ceylon Tamil Sunday, 15 July 2018 04:42 PM

    Reviewing the recent statements of Vijayakala and the on going statements of CM Wigneswaran who is an LTTE Surrogate, the Army should not close all the bases in the North.

    Waco Sunday, 15 July 2018 04:46 PM

    Tri-Forces should not be deployed to discharge the Polce duties , Duting peace time administration.If the Department of Police is incapable and weak, the Hovernment must deal with Department of Police. The Government must not try to humiliate and insult the Tri-Forces by deploying them to perform police duties.

    Gamini Sunday, 15 July 2018 05:01 PM

    Well explained, good work commander

    People Sunday, 15 July 2018 05:02 PM

    What ever politician say about ltte we people - Singles, tails(high case) and others are happy of their elimination. Now take your part to eliminate underworld persons and drug dealers. Make us to live us happy.

    Ceylon Tamil Sunday, 15 July 2018 05:18 PM

    More than the recent statement of Vijayakala, the ongoing statements and actions of LTTE Surrogate CM Wigneswaran is enough to continue the Army camps in the Northern Province. Even the recent boycott of the Missing persons investigation makes me wonder if those who protested and left is only a drama and not actual persons who lost relatives. Only those who stayed behind appears to be the true persons who lost relatives. This boycott too appears to be a drama of the CM Wigneswaran.

    Waco Sunday, 15 July 2018 05:31 PM

    Fair amount of damage has already been done. The two retired Army Offcers who were holding the Governor's positions in North and East, were terminated due to no fault of theirs.

    Shaniwee Sunday, 15 July 2018 06:01 PM

    The removal of army camps in the north is a request by the CM in the north. Why is the north so special to have no army camps? The south has so many army camps. Lets not forget that the country underwent 30 years of civil war. The government can have army camps where ever they want.

    Naeem Sunday, 15 July 2018 06:08 PM

    The Commander is supreme and well said General.

    Martin Milton Sunday, 15 July 2018 06:09 PM

    VERY well said Commander. AND more of it too! Those simplistic ones in this 'thread' and those who simply cannot comprehend what a gigantic task the SL Armed Forces have and are still carrying out so that EVERYONE can live in peace, still whinge. So instead of being grateful for all this some who cannot think clearly for sake of utter bias come out with various comments that betray their destabilising tendencies. So the Sri Lankan people as a whole had better watch out...MM

    johan Sunday, 15 July 2018 06:56 PM

    Security is most important for the war torn areas and also against any threats to the national security but they shouldnot get involved in civil administration

    GH Sunday, 15 July 2018 07:22 PM

    Sir, Mind it, you are challenging the LTTE lobby i.e. Sampanthan and CV Vigneshwaran.

    Indra Sunday, 15 July 2018 08:02 PM

    Happy

    NIMAL Sunday, 15 July 2018 11:21 PM

    So 'Hon.' Wimal Weerawansa has been lying all along?

    ra Sunday, 15 July 2018 11:30 PM

    Tamils are obsessed with dowry so you are doing right thing. Tamils should get rid of barbaric cultural practices if they want to have freedom. Build a good values within the society before standing up the right. How many Tamil men and their family are riding on dowry which is a indirect slavery because someone have to work for someone to give them money or property.

    Jaffna Tamil Monday, 16 July 2018 02:33 AM

    No one in the north is asking army to leave completely,they are only asking to leave the private homes and lands occupied them and spread them proportionately around the country!

    Suresh Monday, 16 July 2018 06:27 AM

    Sadly no one is not in a position to under stand root cause of the problem.If root cause is solved, no need of campaign.

    VJ Monday, 16 July 2018 09:46 AM

    Keep the army, please stop the army from engaging in commercial activities and depriving the people of their livelyhood. This does not help the reconciliation process at all, unless the reconciliation process is just an eyewash.

    Siri de Alwis Monday, 16 July 2018 03:41 PM

    The best is to take the entire three forces to North and East.

    Shrink Monday, 16 July 2018 04:50 PM

    Yes Siri, make them to sweep the roads and clean the toilets in North and East


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