The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has launched new recruitment campaign to boost its manpower while the undeclared Eelam War 4 continued to rage near the northern defense lines. Army's regular infantry regiments, artillery regiment, signal corps, women's corps and elite formations such as the Special Forces(SF), Commando regiment, Mechanized Infantry Division and the Air Mobile Brigade have begun recruiting for the second time in 2007.
SLA's recruitment rate has been significantly high in 2006 and 2007 when compared to that of the year 2005's. Only 3400 new recruitments were made in 2005 while more than 30000 (re-joinings included) joined SLA ranks in 2006 and 2007. However, military experts believe that another 20000 troops are required to properly defend the newly captured territory in the Eastern province while being on the offensive in the Northern front.
The Sri Lanka army, which employs more than 140000 troops (SLN and SLAF personnel excluded), is the 34th largest army in the world in terms of manpower.
Guys,
ReplyDeleteThis is how Thamil Chelvan & Co made the journey back to their Maker:
Please Click this
Please Click this
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, qrious..
ReplyDeleteThat is the only anyone can get the top 10 leaders of LTTE..
It looks like, heavy fighting in Vavuniya...
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071111_02
qrious i would read the above article by jeyaraj with a grain of salt the size of a tennis ball. he's got a tamil agenda to almost all of his articles. the claim of his that the SLAF did not know tamilselvan was inside the targeted bunker is an example of whitewashing the capacity of the airforce.
ReplyDeleteDefenceNet..when you have the time..what is the casualty count in vauniya.Is the airforce helping the army in vauniya..helicopter gunships i mean
ReplyDeleteDefenceNet
ReplyDeleteMy idea is now current recruitment process is quite good.. we better give some value addition to the recruitment by telecasting sort of documentaries or short advertisement which is not directly supporting recruitment
Ex : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esf1TLDjhGs
and how are the training process , how that improves men life and soldiers life, finally soldiers life should be Heroes life
this is how US army’s recruiting support site
http://www.goarmy.com/special_forces/index.jsp?fl=true
http://www.goarmy.com/
what about my early suggestion of school cadet programme, anyone here can tell me is there a sort of process started in Government side or…??
If we re-build the East and create opportunities for the people there, then their hearts and minds will be won because we have shown the people there that we are a better alternative to the LTTE.
ReplyDeleteIf the people of the East are with us, then the LTTE will not be able to get a foothold in the East. The best weapon to counter LTTE infiltration is the Tamil people themselves because they will report any suspicious and foreign agents in the region. They will be much more efficient in sniffing out LTTE activities in the region than our security forces.
I always have this question – if we really in a war, why don’t we call a draft? Seriously?
ReplyDeleteSam,
ReplyDeleteA draft may not be a great idea since it brings in lots of unmotivated people. Instead, we need to develop a culture of appreciation and admiration for what our soldiers have done for the country. That will bring in more motivated men and women to the military.
Sam, imagine how popular a politicians would be if he forced half the people of the country to send their kids to war. That's just not going to happen.
ReplyDeleteDefencenet
ReplyDeleteAny news about the army's claim of killing 17 tiger?
In addition to the traditional combat personnel, Army should introduce new divisions i.e. electronic, aerial warfare, R&D etc etc.
ReplyDeleteThere are huge number of qualified people in the country, who can make a meaningful contribution.
There is a major point being raised here; Sri Lanka needs to enhance the traditional military role in a more respectable way. Today's perception of the military being the sanctuary of the 'unemployed' is not a good one, and does create an unfair image of the average soldier.
ReplyDeleteAll,
ReplyDeleteIf you look at those events in South, killing of civilians and speed boats in Tangalla, it seems that LTTE is preparing for another surprise attack elsewhere. This is a classic LTTE tactic to divert attention. Well, the million dollar question is where. However, we know that Velu wants something for Nov-23rd. MOD, please take another look at our weak points. Could this be a big assault in Colombo agains a political or military target. be vigilent everybody.
Direct offense if the best form of defence. SLA should take to attacking Velu's known hideouts in an all out concentration over the next few weeks.
ReplyDeleteThis guy has one priority qhixh overrides everything else; himself.
so the other one got injured during the air attack and gone to hell was Selvam...
ReplyDeleteThough we know things about military stuff,
ReplyDeleteWe are not veteran people at war
There could be vast different than talking and doing the thing,
Even it could be vary from person to person how they see the battle
There where some people become good and some are not that good
There where Gen.Kobbekaduwa different from others, that’s why Gen. Rommel over rule the British territory within small time in Africa (at initiation)
So it's always better to get every veteran best + outsiders’ opinion can be considered (just like Japanese companies take every employees ideas).
In that case most important thing should be enlisting most experienced and successful people
Should develop a system that taking the opinion of them over a battle within small time period
And compare the similar battles we faced earlier by having the sort of methodology we can compare things, we can ready for the consequences, we can identify the patterns and we can predict things. I know that these process are being used but we don’t have a computerized system, if we have the things could be more easy and accurate..
According to some news reports,
ReplyDeleteTC's bunker was situated about 400m from the Killinochchi hospital.
My guess is, Velu's bunker may be situated right under the Killinochchi Hospital or similar unsuspecting place...
Velu knows perfectly that, SLAF will not bombed a Hospital..
Has anyone thought about this?
This is just a guess...
According to the latest reports, it seems that air force has suffered a lot from Anuradhapura attack
ReplyDeleteMi-17 helicopters-2
Bell Jetranger -1
Beechcraft -1
Chinese built K-8 trainer-1
Mi-24 helicopter gun-ship-1
Chinese built PT-6 trainers-2
brand new Blue Horizon II UAVs-2
Bell-212 helicopter -1
Five PT-6 trainers highly damage due to extreme heat from burning aircrafts (could be beyond repair?)
Searcher Mk II UAV (Its two wings and the engine cowlings damaged)
So it seems that we have almost lost - 17 air crafts
My question is
How many air crafts we have in the air force?
Who’s going to be punished for these great losses?
"times eye"
ReplyDeleteDo your basic research prior to play your trumpet here. These information is well known and pretty much available.
I want to give you one answer.
LTTE is going to pay for all these damages. As simple as that.
Abhaya,
ReplyDeleteGreat answer mate.. you made my day :-)
Hmm..times eye,well i know u got those info from the sundaytimes-no worries..& indeed we have to find those found accountable & hold them responsible for this gross lapse on our part..but remember,we are fighting a very ruthless terrorist outfit & therfore we must always be one(or 2,3,4)steps ahead of them..
ReplyDelete& well,yeah the Ltte is gonna feel something burning their asses very soon..
Abhaya,
ReplyDeletetook the words out of my mouth mate...good show
yes people who are accountable have to be taken to task...but the tigers pay dearly....
Noltte=peace,
ReplyDeleteyes we need a strong R&D arm under the MOD to oversee the Three forces R&D....
Also we should try to set up a big Miritime SIGINT station/stations. Also an oceanographic vessel and some deep sea tugs to do salvage/rescue work could help SL to solidify its maritime role in a non Naval way...
just my 2 cents.
"My question is
ReplyDeleteHow many air crafts we have in the air force?
More than Thamilselvam would have wanted.
Also, according to all other account, we lost only 1 Mi-17 in the attack. This week's figures by Athas had more inaccuracies in them.
ReplyDeleteTimes eye, I said this before somewhere, the only things we lost that we'll really miss are the Beachcraft and the Mi-24 (the UAVs weren't in service anyway). Everything else is either not essential, or quickly replaceable.
Compared to Katunayake, the loses at Anuradhapura were a lot less significant.
"we must always be one(or 2,3,4)steps ahead of them.."
ReplyDeleteWe must, but our Air Force was 4,5 steps behind in recent times, specially since LTTE started their air attacks...
"Everything else is either not essential, or quickly replaceable."
i heard the loss is many million dollars.....and thats lot of money,specially for a country like sri lanka!, stop pretending !
times-eye
ReplyDeletei heard the loss is many million dollars
Andawane muruga! Who told you? A little birdie?
We need to wait for the end of the investigation into AAB attack.We lost 17 planes which is not good..but the LTTE moles if any..in the Abase attack must be identified before they do more damage.This is of the utmost importance now..Although it is going to cost us dearly the govt will replace the air assets lost with hopefully more effective weapons.
ReplyDeleteSriLankan...thats the attitude we should have, then only we can correct our mistakes, we have to accept our failures.... onecountry, you are partially blind, thats why you came to that conclusion....
ReplyDeleteKilling Selvam is a blow to LTTE, but remember he's only one guy, but those planes worth lot more than Selvams life......
times eye.. I hope the results of the investigation are published after the LTTE moles are caught if any....In a little country like ours on the brink of destruction..i cannot for the life of me imagine the mentality of a person who sells their country out given what the people have gone through for over 30 years.
ReplyDeletemoles are common in any situation, even FBI/CIA had moles in them, We can't completely get rid of them at any time,AAB attack happened because of complete negligence & irresponsibility of the persons involved in taking decisions, will the learn from the mistakes????
ReplyDeletetimes eye,
ReplyDelete"We must, but our Air Force was 4,5 steps behind in recent times, specially since LTTE started their air attacks..."
What bullshit are you talking ???
Do you say SLAF is behind many steps just because of the AAB attack?
"LTTE air attcks" ?? ohh comeon man, where on earth are you living ? whats the damage it did in terms of property or human lives that affected the war? Other than the huge propoganda and the air show, what was the real achievement of TAF - "TINCAN Air Force"? So far its nothing but killing a dozon poor cows with its air to ground guided missiles !!!
"Killing Selvam is a blow to LTTE, but remember he's only one guy, but those planes worth lot more than Selvams life......"
TC is one guy ? Please dont talk like a kid in grade 3..., The importance of him is not the loss of an infantry man, but the loss of knowlesge, experience, leadership and the huge moral boost for their young cadres if he was alive as a 2nd level leader. Do you really beleive any one else can replace him or come near this level easily? Doesnt it a big blow to the damn terror outfit? if we kill few more experienced leaders like this from where they gonna find those assets? Sure they wont come to you, knowing you are just below an average grade 3 student!!
Just remember what they did to us, destroying our srilankan leaders, political , militerry and intelectuals during past few dacades, and it gave a temporary set back to us as a country for sure.
Dont forget we are fighting with an uncivilised group of thugs, dont expect the idial situation of wining every war and getting no suprise attacks from them.
Just bcos we hurt somewhat dont go so negative, and dont ever comment so unfairly like a kid.
We are terrorizing the terrorists !!!
Lets correct our faults and step ahead as a nation.....
Skywalker,Those tin cans could come, bomb and fly safely back to vanni 3 times, our air force was just looking at their TIN CAN air show......
ReplyDeleteSo what do you suggest ?
ReplyDeleteAre you sure then SLAF was just watching the show?
Yeah they could have try to catch those tin can flies using a small fishing net....
Any simple or brilliant ideas, times eye?
No one is belitting the armed forces...The biggest problem here is that they are not under a single operational command.The question about the tincans is...what is stopping our air assets from shooting these tincans down...what?..i am sure our forces are superior...so why cant they shoot 2 cessnas down?..in these attacks troops on FDL's oberved the tincans..but nothing happened to the tinscans...I think before the helicopters are used they have to go through a "beaureaucracy"..within that time the tincans can fly to the antartic and back..
ReplyDeletewhen any tincan is spotted over FDls..an air asset must be airbourne within 5 minutes...!!!!
ReplyDeletei made a mistake there...3 minutes!!
ReplyDeleteGuys, the demise of the LTTE is certain, although they are still capable of giving us surprises with an attack against a strategic target or two: VP does them to impress his immediate subordinates and win their respect for his ingeniuty; but these powers, that worked miracles for him in his hey day, are now on the wane.
ReplyDeleteThe pillars on which the LTTE have been built upon were intimidation, deception and hatred towards the majority. History shows these pillars are very fragile building blocks;
So, the LTTE must blame themselves in the event of a collective collapse - for its choice of building materials.
Sri Lankan,
ReplyDeletePiston/TP prop air crafts would have a better ability to srcamble from stand by under 3~5 mins than Jets would.
Wish we had the ol puccaras and SF-260W/TP now...:) with two gun pods...and ground radar directing them to the target...Zlins could be toast...
There is a news in Lankadeepa- "LTTE Black Tigers has issued a notice to civiliance to vacate the area around army camps in Mannar"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lankadeepa.lk/2007/11/13/front_news/8.html
Defencenet
Do you have any news on this?
What remains to be seen is not what happened..but what we learnt from it and how well we defend aganist the next.
ReplyDeleteOffense is the best form of defence and there has never been a better time than now.
Nemesis, we'll need trained pilots to fly them, enough pilots to be on constant standby, additional resources to keep the planes air worthy, and we'd have to hope they didn't stray into LTTE areas and get shot down. All for what? To protect against LTTE aircraft that have done close to zero physical damage.
ReplyDeleteI think ground based defenses will be a more practical approach.
Velu wanted to destroy the SLAF, but couldn't even with all that man power at his command.
ReplyDeleteAthas did more damage, with no one to support him; literally obliterated the SLAF...!!!!
Quite funnily, the pen certainly proved mightier than the sword..
tropicalstrome,
ReplyDeletestop picking on Athas..he has been exposing all the corruption and mis managment and all the bad command effects of the defence establishmnet, if not he could be tried under the current law for being traitor, had he deveolved any details in the likes of national security.
so far no government has done so, just becours the governments know , whatever allegations leveld at Athas at a court of law can be challanged, and since Athas writes more on dirt of the Govt.and Defence hiarachy , they dont want to take him to courts , insted they hound him.
he was the first one to start writing about Defence & Security related issues with analysis and indepth coverage since late 1980s, and thanks to him only we see all this "war lords' and 'Defence and Militery Experts' on the SL web fora and now the SL blogsper.
so, lets not be funky about Athas and he bit fair to him, though some tims he gets carried away.
Ltte’s always looking at destroying what ever they come cross while looking for main targets, seems its schedules are highly dynamic
ReplyDeleteMain targets would be
Leadership: president, Gotabhaya, 3 forces commanders and highly effective officers
Equipment: supersonic jets, multi-barrel rocket launchers
Economy: Harbor, airport etc
Militarily significant targets: FDLs and bases – might try to overrun sort of places gaining significant media advantages over Diaspora
Small things happened in Yala and other places to entangle the situation,
Sometimes we need to access small problems early… that’s why I suggest rapid deployment force with highly effective counter terror tactic with deploying method like small back helicopter type , at times we need highly trained forces even for mall things
Or we have to make most of operational staff a special unit with advanced training
I like to know defence do we have Dragunov SVD or Type 79/85 rifles? I have seen ltte usng em
TE,
ReplyDeleteDont get too carried away by the various estimates given in the media about the costs of the aircraft lost at AAB. It was only last week that Athas insisted we had lost five K-8 aircraft, before he admitted this week that they were in fact PT-6 aircraft (very much cheaper). These so called "defence experts" who cant tell the difference between a propellor driven plane and a jet are not the best people to estimate the cost of such aircraft.
Nemesis, Pucara and SF-260 might not be able to find a low flying Zlin in the dark even if guided by groud based radar (even with pilot NVG). The target is small and moving all the time at tree top level, while the radar can only guide to the approximate area. See the following Athas article.
http://sundaytimes.lk/070429/Columns/sitreport.html
If true, it says an Mi-24 (probably more capable than the turbo-props) pilot which had scrambled to intercept had reported that he thought he "felt" a Zlin flying over above him. That wouldn't happen in a modern multi-role fighter capable of intercepting and equipped with radar. Also the turbo-props being almost as slow as the Zlin wouldn't be much use for chasing either.
Illegal existence, the LTTE is becoming picky about how they use their precious Zlins. They only attacked the AAB once the ground attackers confirmed the air defences were neutralised. So its unlikely they will attack a target which is protected by point air defences unless the defences are taken out. This is one reason why a strategy based only on ground based point defences will not work against the Zlins.
Nemesis..if props have a better chance why doesnt the airforce buy some cheap WW2 planes for defensive purposes only.and equip them with cannon to defend the military installations and disperse them to various airfields?.Their vulnerability to guound fire is not an issue.Pilots can be trained quicker..more trainig for pilots..cheaper to train.cheaper maintenance..since we have loads of timber..can land in most places..very versatile..This situation reminds me of a child trying not to use his/her "good" marbels just in case they get "scratched".
ReplyDeletesrilankan,
ReplyDeleteThere is no need to take ridiculous measures like buying WWII props. We already have Mi-24's which are much superior to those props. They are as fast, and more heavily armed. Some are even equipped with FLIR which can be used to cue AAM's.
But the fact remains that you will not be able to intercept Zlin's with props and helicopters as proven on four successive occasions.
A lot of things ahve changed since WWII, and the way the LTTE is using their Zlins is very different to how props were used in WWII. If at all, its similar to how small, low flying aircraft were used to drop/collect agents from/into occupied France. They also managed to escape without being intercepted by propellor driven fighters.
Shay:
ReplyDeletethe superiority MI-24 gunship is great.However how many of these gunships have to be destroyed by the LTTE before the airforce "feels" that it is "too risky" to commit other air assets..neatly parked and painted regularly?..say 50%..60%?.I would settle for some cessnas with cannon..These can have high speed cameras + other surveillance equipment also to help army planners.If by chance it is shot out of the sky..thats a risk we have to take...What i am suggesting is disposable air assets that can be used to do the job...These LTTE planes are not invisible/invincible ..so cant we use cessnas as spy planes in govt controlled areas for information gathering?
I am no friend of Athas..but i ask myself who will highlight those "thorny issues"..even if he is doing it for his own/LTTE benefit?...
ReplyDeletesrilankan,
ReplyDeleteThe reason the SLAF has so far not been able to intercept Zlins is not because they are afraid of losing assets. Its because we don't have an interception capability for many reasons as previously discussed. Cessna's and other props will not be any more successful than what the SLAF already has including Mi-24's.
Whats the point using Cessna's for surveillance?? We already have UAV's and Beechcraft for that.
Finally, planes and pilots are not disposable assets. I'm sure I don't need to point out why.
Duminda Silva joins Govt.:
ReplyDeleteABC Radio ban to be lifted?
Guys,
ReplyDeleteThe problem with the Atha's column is that he always paints picture of gloom about the army's successes.
His comments, when analyzed over the years, boil down to one thing; the victory of the LTTE at the expense of the armed forces.
It is really funny to look at those columns from the edge of an era where the opposite is about to emerge.
I think this has been an exercise manipulated by the marketing arm of the publishers - to attract a specific audience by telling them what they love to hear.
I see you guys at times ridiculed timeseye on LTTE air/ground operations...
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am reluctant to give credit to the LTTE on those air attacks, we can't outrightly dismissed the strain on our resources to counter the LTTE air threat...
We are fully agreed that LTTE planes didn't do much damage on their last 6 missions..
However, the SLAF has to gather resources to counter this threat one way or the other..
SLAF bought/received few radars inculding the one from China, at a cost of 5 million dollars..
Then they infact inflict a damage of half million dollars on the gas facility...
In terms of casualities, around 10 soldiers/airmen died before the AAB attack..Those were the direct results of LTTE air attacks...
I don't think it is a good idea to dismiss the Air threat from the tiger planes/tin cans as some of you guys like to call them..
Everything starts with a small step..LTTE attacks are no mean achievment...No way tigers can built an airforce in one day bringing in 10 fighters..
SLAF should face the reallity...There is a threat and no one can dismiss that outrightly...(May be you guys want to cheer up our boys...)
After the first LTTE air attack, our SLAF top brass dismissed them completely and said they will take care of the situation soon..Then came the AAB attack...It shows clearly that SLAF was under prepared for the whole mess...defencewire mentioned that too..
Then came the AAB attack...The losses were not in thousands, but in millions...
To replace those losses, given the situation the GOSL is currently in, It will take years to replace them...Why I said so? The best ex. is the 2001 attack on KAB..Not even Sri Lankan airlines replaced their lost aircrafts..Correct me if I am wrong...
After KAB attack in March 2007 what the Top bras of the SLAF should have done was to built underground bunkers for all these aircrafts, atleast for the 5/10 squdron..But that didn't happen..The reason is most likely not enough money or may be they were still thinking that they will distroy the tiger planes any how..But the LTTE is one step ahead and came with a ground attack..Why SLAF top brass can't think that way? These men are educated...Aren't they?
If we go by that cenario, we will not going to replace any of those assets we lost immediately...
Sorry I might have anger or dissapoint you guys mostly on that one...
That said, not everything is lost..
We still has a chance to turn around this situation if the SLAF top brass use their brains...
At any given time, atleast couple of thosand airmen frequent the KAB..We need to employ armed guards around the perimeter of all valuble assests including the KAB..
Atleast every hundred meters...
Ex. if we are looking at an area(circle) of 3KM radius, you are looking at a circumfarence of 12.5km..You need atleast 122 armed guards for the whole area to protect it..
Like our Cricket team, we got muscle but lack brains..
Otherwise they should have protected those valuable assests...
I am throughly dissapointed with that...
Almost all of us wanted to avert the AAB debacle..But it happened...
I am furious because, none of the warnings were headed...Only compensation on the readers of the blog is, that atleast we warned them..
ACT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE..
May the force be with you...
Thanks shay for your input...Its just that after spending millions of $$$ on air assets people wonder why they cannot defend SLankan airspace...
ReplyDeletetangara,i totally agree with your evaluation.if the tigers can do the damage they did with a few 'takaran',or tin-can aircraft,imagine the damage they would inflict if they possessed a squadron of Mig's & Kfirs?!! something to think about,eh?
ReplyDeleteIn this sunday's 'observer',the government's "bright & sunny" as always,ragsheet,the AF commander has dismissed the latest attack,by giving a load of BULLSHIT answers..he,for instance dismisses the tiger attack on AAB,saying they have not lost their figting capability..true enough,only a 'Hind' was lost,but what use is it without the eyes & ears?(loss of the HISAR beechcraft)??,not to mention the AF's morale,which was boosted by tamichelvams attack..
If we want to have a disciplined army, then we must spruce up our recruitment process by bringing in stricter requirements and also making the compensation and perks attractive.
ReplyDeleteYou cant expect an army filled with people who had nowehere to go but join win wars and maintain decency.
In a previous thread we discussed LTTE taking control of the AAB's anti aircraft guns...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/10/21/tamiltiger-strikes.html
This would give you guys some indication whether that was true or false...
Police in its report on the subject said, that there was wide spread distruction to the facility...
Renegade,
ReplyDeleteThanks...
We need to fix all the problems with the SLAF...I think 2 costly lessons are enough for them to learn...
We need to tell the SLAF top brass, that these are expensive machines relative to what our poor country have..
May be the top brass is well to do..But not the SLAF or the GOSL..
We are a third world country , bloody hell...
Back to the AAB attack...
I guess, LTTE was in control of those guns...
I am now in a mood to discuss the distruction...
But I think we should move on...
It is over..We lost it..
Now face the music...
ReplyDeleteI beleive LTTE is going to attack our FDL'S just like they did it about an year ago..
This will happen in Mannar/Vaunia/Wellioya front..
Something is telling me that a massive attack is on the way..
Velu must be feeling that his caders are ready to take the revenge...
It is going to be Super Massive.
Be ready...
Velu is going to make a huge gamble..
ReplyDeleteHe will use all his men for this attack...
HOW ABOUT THAT?
Anyone wants to say anything...
??
fazli sameer,
ReplyDelete"If we want to have a disciplined army, then we must spruce up our recruitment process by bringing in stricter requirements and also making the compensation and perks attractive."
The army is struggling to attract enough recruits as it is and you want to bring in stricter requirements?
"You cant expect an army filled with people who had nowehere to go but join win wars and maintain decency."
what right have you got to say this? while you are typing this in an airconditioned environemnt sitting in a plush chair the "army filled with ppl who had nowhere to go" are putting their lives on the line probably stuck in some crummy bunker full of mud and rain water.
I cant belive how arrogant and unsympathetic you are.
This is how he is going to do that.
ReplyDeleteSend small teams to attack all SLA camps/and weapon sites, while engaging the SLA with their other attack formations.
It is possible LTTE might resort to couple of other AAB like attacks before launching a massive attack on FDL's..
That way he can break the SLA morale...
tanagara,
ReplyDeletedude cool down nothing you and i can do about it but hope that the relevant ppl are on alert
I personally dont think that LTTE will launch a massive attack against the FDL's probably more concerened with defences and launching black tiger operations in south against military installations,targets with high economic value and VIP assination.
However who can predict the LTTE?
Being sympathetic to the army is one thing. Addressing the reality on the ground is another.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why people do not join the army is because they dont see any alue in it for themseles and their future. It is not becaus ethey are unpatriotic.
I sit in my air conditioned room in my plush sofa and write this because I chose not to join an army that is filled with people who are not qualified to be there and with whom I wouldn't want to spend my life with. Would you?
An army who is not loyal and patriotic is no army at all. The number of incidents of LTTE incursions into the SL Army by way of buying information is way over the hill. The number or soldiers MIA is also ery large.
Have you asked yourself why?
People join the forces because they have no other place to go to. Ask around the forum and see how many posters here would want to do so willingly?
Unless and otherwise we accept the ground reality and look the situation in the face we will never be able to move ahead.
Its a sink or swim situation. Choose whats best for us.
Cable,
ReplyDeleteThanks mate..
I had a long day, now it is close to midnight in South Pacific, and haven't eaten yet..I am stuck to this for hours now..
The reason I am furious, is what the SLAF high up's telling the people is, ok , we have LTTE air raids, but they are not challenging enough for us to make any move...Is that what they want to say?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not like that...
ReplyDeleteI have friends who work for Trinko, Muhamalei more than 8, 10 years...
they have selected where to go,
one person got injured and school mate who’s living in UK asked him to join with him and promised him that he would take care of everything...
but he refused..
he said "Mata Bey Machan .. mewa karanney kawuda ethakota?"
do you think that he's unable to go anywhere but army?
If someone turn back his motherland ,he’ no patriotic what ever
i am waiting to see what the forces have planned for this "heroes day speech?" on 26th nov..
ReplyDeleteDefenceNet..when you have the Time...when people read defense.lk..you come across this idea that terrorists retreat..after an engagement ...Is it a bad idea to pursue them ...finish them off?..or are they retreating under the protection of LTTE mortar/artillary fire?..and do they mine the area on their retreat to stop/delay soldiers from pursueing them?
ReplyDeletefazil,
ReplyDelete"The reason why people do not join the army is because they dont see any alue in it for themseles and their future. It is not because ethey are unpatriotic."
Have you heard of anything called contradiction in terms its something like this
"Value in it for me" and "patriotic"
"I sit in my air conditioned room in my plush sofa and write this because I chose not to join an army that is filled with people who are not qualified to be there and with whom I wouldn't want to spend my life with. Would you?"
choice is the key word here, if ppl who fought in wars since time immemorial thought like you did the world would have been a very different place, do you think that troops of US,UK and russia were who fought in world war II were "qualified" and they wanted to spend their lives together. Do you think that "Hasalaka Gamini" who gave his life to save others in the elephant pass battle was "qualified"? this poor village "unqualified" youth would not have been a person who the colombo jet set would associate with for "rest of their lives" but he is a far far better human being than you and i cane ever aspire to be. He was willing to give up his life for others Is there any better qualfication?
You can hide behind excuses of why you are not joining the army but dont insult or put down ppl who do this way. you and i have not earned the right to do so.
"An army who is not loyal and patriotic is no army at all."
Damm right! why do you think these boys go into harms way not knowing if they will return back dead or alive for only a measly 15,000 bucks a month? "theirs is not to reason why theirs is to do and die" thats their motto. far cry from your corporate world eh fazil
"The number of incidents of LTTE incursions into the SL Army by way of buying information is way over the hill."
please define way over the hill
"The number or soldiers MIA is also ery large"
is that because of qualifications? what do you think these guys to do when their leaders are weak and the general public like you think of forces ppl like this
"People join the forces because they have no other place to go to."
140,000 people are in the army do you think that every one of them are there because they havent got any other alternative? I cant belive how full of yourself you are
"Ask around the forum and see how many posters here would want to do so willingly"
I dont have to ask around i know they dont want to go to war like me I dont know about others but i consider myself coward because i havent joined the army. I can give various reasons i am sure all of us have them but at the end of the day these are just execuses.
I am not saying not to criticises when there are wrongs done as all of you know i am a person who severly critisies the political leadership and their corruption but
give some respect for the ppl who are out there defending us.
How many Prostitutes sell their body for a,living across the globe? Millions?
ReplyDeleteDo you believe they do it because they love the profession?
fazil
ReplyDeleteforgot about this
"Unless and otherwise we accept the ground reality and look the situation in the face we will never be able to move ahead."
I totally agree with you on this but i think we need another forum to discuss about this
fazil,
ReplyDelete"How many Prostitutes sell their body for a,living across the globe? Millions?"
this is soo low even for you think about what you are saying you are equating the Sri lankan army with prostitutes.how cany you stoop to this level.are you even living in sri lanka? In Sri lankan culture there is something called gratitude that what our parents teach us from the day we were born metaphors like this dosent get your point across but just makes you look like a selfish,egostical, spoiled rotten worthless excuse for a human being.
cable,
ReplyDeleteit is sad that you could not understand my point in referring to those people who sell their body for a living in relation to your post. You choose to use it to castigate me. Typical Sri Lankan!
You have to remember that they are also human beings and that their activity does not demean them in any way since they do it only because they have no other source of income. The very fact that you treat them with such lowliness and contempt defines your way of thinking. I was only trying to bring that out of you and I hae to say I am very pleased with myself in exposing your attitudes and double standard.
Furthermore please do take a look at your own language in your posts and decide for yourself what a decent human being you yourself are? I am sure you can do better than that?
This is our biggest problkem in Sri Lanka. We lack decency in a big way. Unless we clean up our people we will never become any better, sadly.
Guys,
ReplyDeleteNo army is perfect in the world.
Look at the Nato forces in Afghanistan, for instance: the civilain casualties are mounting by the hundred.
Look at what goes in Iraq: the private security firms are for a kill with blatant disregard for human life.
Yes, inquiries are always carried out. But how many have been convicted?
So, the abuses of all forms are widespread; the bloodier the conflict, the greater the abuse. Developed world is no exception.
To understand this inevitable tendency -regardless of which army the soldiers belong - we must put ourselves in the shoe of a soldier on the frontline. When his life hanging in the balance by a thred, only he knows what goes in his mind. So, the way he reacts in these circumstance defies logic and reason; he simply is unpredictable.
Don't forget soldiers join an army to make a living; patriotism is his second-nature.
That is why Europeans hate wars; they learnt it from bitter experience. It is time we did our best not to let them start again, once the forces deal with what has been going on.
tangara,r u in aussie? i'm planning on going there for studies..is perth good? where are u livin @?
ReplyDeletetangara, thanks for the thoughtful remark, Our Airforce needs people like you, not those who brag after failing miserably in protecting our air space & loosing 17 planes. Why can't they accept the fact that our air defense system failed!, guys lets put your egos down & start thinking about a new air defense plan :-)
ReplyDeleteQrious
ReplyDeleteIraq & Sri Lanka is different, Iraq insurgents doesn't have a mini state... they mingle with civilians and attack, thats why US army failed...in Sri Lanka there is a mini state run by LTTE, with clear defense lines, its completely different story
TimesEye,
ReplyDeleteThe concept of state is in people's psyche; it has no permanent existence. The boundries fall into the same category. When people fed up with their way of living both the state and its boundries fail.
We have the means to contribute to this blog at the comfort of our homes. I am sure, innocent people in Wanni do not have that luxury. I think they have a right to enjoy that after decades of suffering.
fazil,
ReplyDelete"it is sad that you could not understand my point in referring to those people who sell their body for a living in relation to your post. You choose to use it to castigate me. Typical Sri Lankan"
what more is there to understand?
I was disagreeing with your concept of "army is only made up unqualified ppl who are there to earn a salary as they cant get other job" with the example of hasalaka gamini who gave up his life so others may live. for which you replied with
"How many Prostitutes sell their body for a,living across the globe? Millions?"
Its not only typical sri lankan.Thats typical any rational person (i musr say with a bit of gratitude) anywhere in the world but i can see from your comment "typical sri lankan" you love this country so much!
"You have to remember that they are also human beings and that their activity does not demean them in any way since they do it only because they have no other source of income"
I never demeaned your precious prostitutes, but when you try to equate the sacrifice of the soilders with prostitutes selling their bodies to earn money....that is drawing the line too too far!
"I am very pleased with myself in exposing your attitudes and double standard."
bad attitude and double standard on my part beacuse i rejected equating SL soilders with prostitues?....ok i am guilty of that but are you really pleased because you have employed the same standards for prostitutes who earn their living by selling their bodies (your words)and SL silders who put their lives on the line for the benifit of the rest of us. what can i say? you must really,really like prostitutes!
"Furthermore please do take a look at your own language in your posts and decide for yourself what a decent human being you yourself are? I am sure you can do better than that?"
whats wrong with my language is it the "selfish,egostical, spoiled rotten worthless excuse for a human being" that you are talikg about. I dont have to decide i'll let the other bloggers here decide who is the more better person, let me think.... it is a person who equates the army to prostitutes and calls them unqualified for the job and in it only for the money or is it a person who calls the earlier person a selfish,egostical, spoiled rotten worthless excuse for a human being.
Tough choice!
"This is our biggest problkem in Sri Lanka. We lack decency in a big way. Unless we clean up our people we will never become any better, sadly."
What is the decency you talk about? the one where you go to dinners every friday night and complain about being stopped at check points on the way home after a few drinks or is it or the decency of a village lad called gamini who had the guts to die for you fighting a ruthless enemy even though you think that he is unqulified for the job and only after the 15,000/- bucks on offer!
If its the second count me in.
tangara,that's one gloomy situation that u are predictin is gonna happen @ the FDL's..
ReplyDeleteI guess we are not gonna be able to penetrate the LTTE defences,atleast in the muhamalai sector..we learnt that much twice already,to our misfortune..
I would suggest a diversionary attack,by hitting from the nagerkovil area,while the actual attack could be done from the sea-an amphibious landing could be carried out,in the seas close to palai,chalai-sector perhaps?..we could bombard LTTE shore defences,using our sub-chaser & gunboats..& send in crack commando/SF battalions,"behind enemy lines"..while the SLAF takes on identified targets,like artillery,ammo dumps,LTTE formations..SLAF jets could be used for taking out artillery/mortar positions,while Mi-24 "crocodiles",could be used to take on enemy formations,machine gun nests,huts,mini-bunkers & smaller targets..simultaneously,we should be directing artillery,MBRL fire,which could be directed,by getting co-ordinates from our commando's & our TPQ-36 firefinder arti/mortar locating radar(these MBRL's/arti/mortars must be forward deployed to acheive their max effective range & accuracy)..during this time,our Navy Dvoras/other attack craft.must maintain a cordon,to prevent any Sea Tiger boats from coming to the tigers assistance..
JUST A FANTASY THOUGHT GUYS!!
I doubt whether our armed services would ever be able to launch such a combined services operation,on the scale discussed above..they have goto start trustin each other first!!..If it happens,well then i would be lighting crackers.he.he
If this war continues without any resolve, those people who are stuck in the middle will definitely be psychopaths , I have seen some guys from vanni & jaffna, some of them are not normal, they are always in tension (like loosing control quickly), may be its too late already, 20 years is a long time.
ReplyDeleteThere are two ways to minimize attacks on inland installations in addition to road-blocks and other perimeter protection measures,
ReplyDelete1. Maintain a complete Central Database of terrorist suspects with pictures, finger-prints, and perhaps Iris and DNA profiles.
Use these available info to validate identity of personnel.
2. Carry out constant pre-dawn searches in every part of the country. This needs at least 5 specialized teams of 300 - 600 security personnel in each team. They should select specific areas (even totally unsuspecting areas) and cordon and search on daily basis.
These teams should have trained animals who can sniff and find military hardware.
4. Government should have a process of "Security Clearance" for specific personnel who engages in Defence Contracts, Defence related IT projects etc. This Defence Clearance process should be kept clean, away from bribery etc.
(There is a CID guy in CID HQ who charges minimum Rs 500.00 to issue a Police Report for those who migrate or apply for Harbour/Warf-clerk permits. I have met many who had to pay that bribe to get the Police Clearance Report, despite never having any criminal record. Currently it is a very shoddy totally fool-safe process. Expats, tell me whether I am wrong!)
Unless you comb, you can not find lice.
Just thought I might give my 2 cents.
ReplyDeleteThere is no such a thing as perfect security anywhere. Now, I am not trying to excuse the AAB attack, because that was clearly because of poor security. But remember these types of security lapses don't alter the military balance in the current conflict.
We can not stop all the terrorist attacks all the time, its impossible. The terrorists have the advantage, cause they choose the place and time of the attack, all we can do is be alert and try to win over hearts and minds of the people who could help us the most. And war can't be fought 100% perfectly, innocent people will get killed sooner of later. Thats what history shows us.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDefnet... Hiru mentioned ltte has asked mannar civilians to evacuate ?
ReplyDeleteWhat gives mate ?
Tangara has a point PB's bunker will in the least or the last place we expect it to be ! But, SLAF will eventually find the rathole !
Pound them Boys.... Pound them !
cable,
ReplyDeletei am just hoping and waiting to see when you are going to join the army for all the reasons you claim people join the army. Once you do that for the right reasons, then you may speak up. Till then, I think discretion would be the better part of valor.
why do you hate women who sell their bodies for a living?
"Something is telling me that a massive attack is on the way.. Anyone wants to say anything...??"
ReplyDeleteWell, Tangara, unless you elaborate on what this "something" is that's telling you this, it's a bit hard to comment. The postman told me this morning that he had a feeling it would rain later. I didn't comment on that either.
"I chose not to join an army that is filled with people who are not qualified to be there and with whom I wouldn't want to spend my life with."
What qualifications do you feel are needed, Fazli, to be a foot soldier, that our current soldiers don't have, but which you feel you obviously do?
"An army who is not loyal and patriotic is no army at all. The number of incidents of LTTE incursions into the SL Army by way of buying information is way over the hill. The number or soldiers MIA is also ery large.
Have you asked yourself why?"
This is one of the biggest pieces of nonsense I've heard in awhile. Can you quote numbers of even alleged LTTE bribing of military personnel (never mind proven)? It's pretty small.
The reason why we have so many MIAs is because the MoD by policy refuses to class as KIA bodies of soldiers who haven't been positively ID'd. This has been explained by me before on this site.
"People join the forces because they have no other place to go to. Ask around the forum and see how many posters here would want to do so willingly?"
This is another misconception, and has already been explained as well. The MoD is happy to pretend that recruits are largely from the unemployed sector. When I finished basic training, my entire training platoon was forced to put down "unemployed" as reason for joining on our insurance forms. The vast majority of soldiers join for the excitement, the uniform, because they're bored, some patriotism, the attraction of a government pension, and a few because they're unemployed. This makes it easier for the MoD to claim that they're not draining civil manpower resources. I also think that a Buddhist civilian society isn't ready to deal with the fact that they're young men are joining up 'cos they feeel it'll be fun to kill people.
As for the people on this forum, we're a tiny fraction of the population, and not representative. And what makes you think the Army would take you even if you wanted to go?
David,
ReplyDeleteI have nothing personal against those who have joined the army or even any of the other forces in SL.
My post to Cable was only to ascertain the simple fact that all of the forces in Sri Lanka do not have a sensible recruitment policy to ensure that the right men and women are recruited within their ranks for the job at hand.
The SL Police is the best example of mismanagement, corruption and oppression if you have had an opportunity to deal with their men and women in uniform during the past 60 years.
The recent Bambalapitiya Police 'B' report saga related to Malaka Silva should tell you a whole story.
How many top intelligence men hae been gunned down by the LTTE? Would the terrorists have been as successful if they didn't have inside information?
It is the entire discretion of the Army whether they want to recruit me into their ranks or not. At the same time it is also entirely my own discretion whether I would want to join the SL Army or not. I think we still have some of those little freedoms remaining in our homeland. Thank God! For how long no one can tell.
Hiding ones head in the ground like an ostrich will not solve our domestic problems in any way. We have to cleanse the Augean Stables top down starting from the CIC all the way down to the foot soldier.
Corruption and anarchy has become a way of life in our nation. We will never get anywhere unless we can clean that up. I doubt I will see that happening in my lifetime.
Good Luck to you young fellows!
Lets hope you are all successful in building a nation filled with wise men who choose to use decent language and live a clean life with freedom abundant and love between all communities flowing through the veins like milk and honey.
"My post to Cable was only to ascertain the simple fact that all of the forces in Sri Lanka do not have a sensible recruitment policy to ensure that the right men and women are recruited within their ranks for the job at hand."
ReplyDeleteAnd my question to you was: who do you think are the "right" people for the ranks?
"The SL Police is the best example of mismanagement, corruption and oppression"
You can't compare the police to the armed forces, so it's actually a pretty bad example. The armed forces are there to fight a war, and theyy're doing OK at least; the police is there to maintain laaw & order and they're terrible at it.
"How many top intelligence men hae been gunned down by the LTTE? Would the terrorists have been as successful if they didn't have inside information?"
That's just an assumption, and not necessarily true. There are mmany ways to monitor enemy int operatives without needing inside info.
"It is the entire discretion of the Army whether they want to recruit me into their ranks or not. At the same time it is also entirely my own discretion whether I would want to join the SL Army or not."
Obviously, but you miss the point, which was in relation to your comment that most people on this forum would rather not join the Army. The point is (and I repeat) that the people here are neither representative of SL society, nor necessarily desirable to the Army.
"Hiding ones head in the ground like an ostrich will not solve our domestic problems in any way. We have to cleanse the Augean Stables top down starting from the CIC all the way down to the foot soldier."
Well, we're open to suggestions, but so far you've not been constructive in your criticisms.
"Corruption and anarchy has become a way of life in our nation."
Certainly, and the armed forces can only ever be a reflection of society. You can't clean up the Army if you don't first clean up the civil society wwhich controls the army. Conversely, it's quite clear that the armed forces are far less corrupt and anarchic than society in general.
David:
ReplyDeleteGood one David...
Its nice to see people sticking to the topic for a change... DefenceNet would be better off without the politics...its sad that politics seem to permeate every aspects of our lives in Sri Lanka including defence and the military.
Food for thought!
I WONDER WHO WILL LEAD US IF NONE OF US WOULD VOTE?
Hi David:
ReplyDeleteA lot of people in civi street seem to think that a man/woman joins the Service because they have nothing better to do with themselves – i.e. Unemployment. This is probably one of the greatest misconceptions and insults one can give a soldier. It unemployment or economics was the driving force and motivation for recruitment, the Services would never ever be short of volunteers.
Another misconception is that Servicemen/women are 'uneducated' and they join the forces rather than gain a higher education... Whilst it is indeed true that the minimum qualifications to join as an OR may be low, an officer candidate has higher requirements. Besides, many officer's do qualify in more ways than one... both academically, as well as, professionally and the military life in itself is more than a Degree . Quite a few join-up after having taken a degree and not necessarily from KDA.
Some even seem to think that many servicemen/women are illiterate.
I had NOLTTE=Peace mistake me for Iqbal 'Biggles' Athas...
“Janaka De Silva:
You sounds like Athas' ghost.. same style and same wordings..”
November 16, 2007 6:58 AM
Perhaps it was beyond his comprehension that someone other than Athas can write...
David:
“I also think that a Buddhist civilian society isn't ready to deal with the fact that they're young men are joining up 'cos they feel it'll be fun to kill people."
Which brings to mind an 'unofficial' British Army Recruitment Advertisement:
“Join the Army,
See the World,
Meet Interesting People
And Kill Them.”
Though I don't believe that a vast majority of recruits join up for quite the above reason, (not many psychopathics around) you are quite right that many do so based on impulsive behavior – aka 'feelings'. You are also right about it being 'fun' – at least while you are a bachelor... its a challenge which many servicemen/women take-up, manage and balance when blessed with a family.
But what about adventure, mucking around with guns, running around the boonies lock-and-loaded, that's good enough reason... at least. A smart uniform and a bit of spit-and-polish on parade is not too bad also. Camaraderie is another good reason, if you are in a unit which inculcates such values... and if you want to be someone 'special' and willing to do what it takes... the Service is the place for you... THESE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS PEOPLE SEEM TO MISS OUT WHEN THEY GENERALISE.
New twist to deep south killings: six Sinhalese arrested
ReplyDeleteBy Shamindra Ferdinando
Investigations into the recent spate of killings in the deep south, initially blamed on the LTTE, have taken a new twist with the arrest of six Sinhalese including an army deserter and a civilian employed by the army.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that four suspects were arrested Saturday morning on information elicited from two persons including the deserter arrested after they made an abortive bid to kill two farmers-M.M.K.Piyasena and Alvin Singho Wednesday night. The attackers had tried to slit their throats.
Rajapaksa said that one of the suspects is fluent in Tamil. He emphasized the importance in establishing the group’s motive and the origin of the conspiracy.
The farmers who survived the unprovoked attack had claimed that at least one of attackers shouted in Tamil. Police said that attackers wanted to destabilize the South by triggering chaos.
Police said that all victims of the gang were elderly men who couldn’t have fought back.
Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that the arrests were made by troops deployed in the area and the suspects were handed over to Tissamaharama police.
An unidentified gang killed five farmers and on November 10 exploded a claymore blast at Katagamuwa (Yala) after the LTTE killed seven soldiers at Talgasmankada on October 15.
The JVP alleged that a small group of LTTE cadres or a group of persons on the LTTE’s payroll was responsible for attacks which had affected the livelihood of about 3,400 families in the Tissamaharama, Ranminitenna, Thabarawa, Osuwinna, Gona Pattiya, Wewe Yaya and Horagaha Ulpatha.
On President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s directive, Basil Rajapaksa and IGP Victor Perera on November 10 visited Tissamaharama to reassure the people that everything would be done to track down the attackers.
Well informed sources said that JVP supporters living in affected areas had been supportive of the government’s efforts to track down the suspects. In fact, they were the first to insist that the attackers could be from the same area and alerted the authorities to the possibility of a group of Sinhalese on a systematic campaign of terror.
In this light, authorities are also taking a fresh look at the November 10 claymore attack at Katagamuwa which killed a construction worker and wounded another.
Several Sinhalese are in custody for their alleged involvement with the LTTE while the army has been rocked by the arrest of several officers including a Major who allegedly facilitated the LTTE suicide attack on Army Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Parami Kulatunga.
Comment: "This is the Army Mr Jones..."