SLA's 200,000 men could face any threat - Army chief
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) with over 200,000 men is
adequate to defend all threats including any new terrorism threats, Army
Commander Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya said.
The Army Chief told the Sunday Observer that there
were no fresh moves to increase SLA's manpower as it already has over
203,000 well-trained soldiers.
The SLA's manpower was increased manifold during the
military operations against the LTTE and new fighting divisions were
established.
In the post conflict-era, the SLA is using its
manpower in development activities in the North and the East.
Meanwhile, the temporary military bases occupied by
the SLA in the North were vacated gradually with the resettlement of
displaced civilians. The Army installations set up in public and private
buildings in the North have been handed over to the owners.
During the final stages of the battle against LTTE
terrorists, over 290,000 displaced civilians had sought refuge in
welfare centres in Vavuniya. With the completion of de-mining the number
of displaced civilians in welfare centres reduced to 37,000.
"Most of the public and private properties occupied by
the Army have been vacated in the districts of Kilinochchi, Mullaithivu
and Jaffna. Normalcy has been restored in those areas and displaced
civilians are being resettled", he said stressing the need for SLA's
presence in those areas to provide security for the resettled civilians
and also to assist development activities in the North. Construction
work on the new military base at Thunukkai has been completed and
permanent bases in Kilinochchi, Iranamadu, Mullaithivu and Periyamadu
are under construction.
Lt. Gen. Jayasuriya who opened the newly constructed
68 Division headquarters at Puthukuduiruppu last week said the Security
Forces headquarters in Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu would serve as
permanent military bases in the North.
He said that the permanent military bases were set up
only on State lands and no private land was acquired.
Courtesy: Sunday Observer | 
