News
Ex-Northern Governor: Deployments prerogative of armed forces
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.
… reminds AKD led over 560 protests during Yahapalanaya
Former Yahapalana Minister and United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday (19) alleged that the JVP, which carried out over 560 protests during the 2015-2019 period, was now bent on preventing the Opposition from exercising its democratic right to protest.
Recalling the declaration made by the JVP at the height of the violent protest campaign in July 2022 that it would set the Parliament ablaze, the former parliamentarian lashed out at the JVP-led administration for using the police excessively to curb political opposition. Ranawaka said this while addressing the media at the former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Flower Road Office .
Commenting on the protest campaign launched by the Maha Sangha, demanding presidential pardon for General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Ven. Galagotaatte Gnanasara, the ex-Colombo District lawmaker alleged that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake used a combination of police, investigative units and JVP cadres to break up the monks’ protest. The government went to the extent of compelling the JVP/NPP-run Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to deprive the peaceful protesters of basic toilet facilities, he alleged.
The government’s actions proved that only those with prior approval from JVP Pelawatte headquarters could launch protests in Colombo, its suburbs or in the provinces. The police have become a political tool in the hands of the JVP, the ex-Minister said. (SF)
By SK Samaranayake
Six people were killed and seven others injured when a speeding bulker lorry carrying cement and concrete ploughed into several vehicles and a shop on the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road at Kurugoda, Akurana, yesterday (19).
Four of the victims, two women and two men, died on the spot in the accident which occurred around 10.30 am, according to Alawathugoda Police.
Police said the bulker, travelling at high speed from the Matale direction, collided with three three-wheelers, two motorcycles and two lorries before veering off the road and crashing into a commercial establishment.
Five of the injured were rushed to the National Hospital of Kandy, where hospital sources said two remained in critical condition.
The bodies of the four victims were placed at the Akurana Hospital, where two others, who suffered minor injuries, were also receiving treatment.
The driver of the bulker was arrested by the Alawathugoda Police Traffic Division and is to be produced before court.
Investigations are being conducted under the supervision of Central Province Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
owledging that there had been an administrative lapse on the part of the President’s Office in 2019 when Maithripala Sirisena granted presidential pardon to Ven. Gnanasara Thera, Convener of Janathawadi Joint Opposition Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (19) urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to rectify whatever those shortcomings and release the General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena.
Addressing the media at the former President Ranil Wickrekmesinghe’s Flower Road Office, Prof. Peiris emphasized that it was not fair to hold Ven. Gnanasara accountable for lapse or technical fault of others at the Presidential Secretariat during President Sirisena’s tenure.
Prof. Peiris was flanked by UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena and United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka.
The fresh appeal was made on behalf of Ven. Gnanasara in the wake of President Dissanayake and JVP heavyweight Anura Kumara Dissanayake ruling out fresh presidential pardon for the monk. Minister Lal Kantha declared that the government couldn’t under any circumstances meet the continuing monks’ protest demanding Ven. Gnanasara’s release. President Dissanayake dismissed repeated appeals for Ven. Gnanasara’s release when he addressed the NPP really in Badulla.
Sirisena granted presidential pardon in May 2019 even before he completed a year of his six-year term of rigorous imprisonment for contempt of court during proceedings of the media personality Prageeth Ekneligoda’s 2010 January disappearance in the Homagama Magistrate’s court.
At the onset of the regular weekly briefing, Prof. Peiris said that he would report to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (20) morning as requested by the commission. “The CIABOC wanted to record my statement regarding a meeting I chaired at the ministry after the conclusion of the war in 2009 pertaining to an ongoing investigation.”
Commenting further on the imprisonment of Ven. Gnanasara, the former parliamentarian said that President Sirisena intervened following a spate of requests made on behalf of BBS General Secretary by the Mahanayakes, Anunayakes and other Maha Sangha.
The Supreme Court on 10 September, 2026 rescinded the presidential pardon granted in late May 2019.
Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Northern, North-central, Central, Eastern, North-western and Uva provinces
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