Controversy over Vadamarachchi camp pullout:

… discloses allocation of 1,000 acres for new northern command during his tenure

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Former Northern Province Governor Dr. Suren Raghavan says the deployment of the armed forces should be the exclusive prerogative of the military.The deployment of armed forces shouldn’t be under any circumstances, an issue for debate among civilians whatever their status, the academic told The Island.

Dr. Raghavan, who served as the Northern Governor in 2019 during President Mairthripala Sirisena’s tenure, said so regarding the ongoing controversy over the planned withdrawal of Karkovalam army detachment situated south of Point Pedro in the Vadamarachchi sector.

Dr. Raghvan emphasised even after the 2019 Easter carnage the relationship between the armed forces deployed in the north and civilian population had remained cordial.

A highly placed military official told The Island that Karkovalam pullout would be completed by the first week of December. According to him, the base held by a company of Sinha Regiment troops was established in 1995, the year armed forces brought the Jaffna peninsula back under their control. The officer emphasised the vacation of Karkovalam wouldn’t undermine overall deployment as the armed forces retained sufficient strength in the Jaffna peninsula. Altogether three infantry divisions namely 51, 52 and 55 are deployed therein.

Vanni is covered by five infantry divisions. One of them is expected to be shifted soon.Dr. Raghavan said that during his tenure as the Northern Governor alone (January-Dec 2019) over 3,000 acres under armed forces control had been released.

Declaring that the land distribution project had been carried out under ‘urimai’ programme, Dr. Raghavan said that following the change of government in July 2022 the then President Ranil Wickremesinghe extended it to other districts as well.

Dr. Raghavan served as a National List member of the UPFA in the last parliament. The academic represented the SLFP in the UPFA government. Following the change of government, Dr. Raghavan received appointment as State Minister for Higher Education.

The former lawmaker said that the land held by the military was negligible though there were some issues involving families seeking their land. Dr. Raghavan made reference to the ongoing agitation over some 400 families demanding approximately 100 acres.

Commenting on controversy over Karkovalam pullout and concerns expressed by SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa regarding the same, Dr. Raghavan emphasized the deployment of the armed forces should cover nine provinces. One-time advisor to President Sirisena and head of the Presidential Media Division (PMD) Dr. Raghavan said that the north shouldn’t be singled out for heavy concentration of forces.

MP Rajapaksa who is also the national organizer of that party recently warned of a catastrophic situation in case the National People’s Power (NPP) government unilaterally decided to vacate northern bases.

Dr. Raghavan disclosed that during his tenure as the Northern Governor in 2019 he ‘separated and marked’ an area of about 1,000 acres in Ariyalai area for new Northern Command with overland access to Jaffna town and Palaly airport within six and 10 minutes, respectively. According to him, the Northern Province could be efficiently covered by the proposed new command and one base for each northern district for swift deployment in case of any emergency.

The ex-parliamentarian said the area earmarked for new command included the location former northern commander, the then Maj. Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa died in a landmine blast in early August 1992.

Dr. Raghavan stressed the importance of rightsizing the Army, modernising the police and revamping overall intelligence services to meet whatever the future challenges.

Dr. Raghavan said that it would be a grave mistake on the part of military leadership to believe post-war national security primarily depended on holding land.

Former State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon about a year ago declared that the strength of the army, navy and air forces would be reduced to 100,000, 30,000 and 20,000, respectively, by 2030.

The current strength of the army is down to 8,600 officers and 130,000 other ranks while the navy is down to 42,000 from 50,000 at the height of the war.At the time combined forces brought the war to an end in May 2009, there were 205,000 officers and men in both regular and volunteer service of the army.