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| SPECIAL FORCES REGIMENT |
| The Sri Lanka Army Special Forces evolved from organization initially known as “Combat Tracker Team”. This group at the inception in 1985 had two Officers and 38 men and was to be tasked to carry out small group operations which have capability of operating deep in enemy territory against LTTE terrorism in time of war. This Combat Tracker Team led by the dedicated and devoted leadership of Maj Gen (retired) G. Hettiarachchi WWV RWP RSP USP psc. (Then Major) and Col AF Lapher PWV RWP RSP (posthumous) (Then Lieutenant). Subsequently with the formation of the SSG (Special Service Group) the Combat Tracker Team becomes the reconnaissance element of the SSG. Later as the SSG concept failed to materialized, the Combat Tracker Team changes its name as Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) (Special Force) and operated independently. With the massive successful results of the RDF it was gradually expanded to 04 squadrons. In December 1988 the RDF (SF) was officially designated as 1 st Regiment Special Forces. At present the Special Forces consist of a Regimental Centre, SF Brigade, Training School, 3 Battalions and Regimental Headquarter Battalion –Special Forces. |
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Pioneers of Special Forces |
The role of the Special Forces Regiment is to conduct unconventional warfare and special Ops in remote, urban or rural environment, both overt and covert. This Regiment is specialized in hard hitting encounters with the enemy using superior skills and fire power. |
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The Sri Lanka Army Special Forces has the ability to prove that perform unconventional warfare as either “deep penetration” force or for extended during missions, or both. The SF Troops are specially selected, trained, equipped and organized military group consist with highly motivated members qualified to perform reconnaissance, surveillances target acquisition and engagement ops within the controlling or supported units area of interest or influence.
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The Special Forces which can be move quickly and simply suited to rapid deployment to meet unforeseen circumstances. The squadrons is an independent sub unit capable of conducting ops in any of the SF roles Reconnaissance, offensive action, Irregular and indigenous force and counter terrorism at strategic or operational level in all environments. |
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1 st Regiment Special Forces has a Combat Rider Squadron which consist of highly trained Special Forces soldiers who are mounted on motorcycles which cross country capability. They are proved be forces to reckon-with, due to their quick reaction capability.
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| 2 nd Regiment Special Forces was initially raised on 1994 with 3 Squadrons. Today it is a fully fledges battalion with 04 fighting squadrons. Its has diving Team with assault boats and consist with highly train divers specialized in beach reconnaissance, surveillances and limited strike ops closer to beaches, and also under water demolition capabilities. |
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| 3 rd Regiment Special Forces which was established on 1996 as a Sea born force has now been tasked to operate on the ground role as another SF battalion. Today the 3 rd Battalion Special Forces conduct special missions. |
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The Regimental Centre and Special Forces Brigade was establish on 1997. The Regimental Headquarter Battalion SF which was raised to administer and maintain record of injured personnel in 1998 and it is under command to Regimental Centre Special Forces. |
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Special Forces Training School was established on 15 th February 1992 and has done a yeoman service to the Special Forces Regiment by conducting the basic and specialized training for all Special Forces personnel. It also conducts special courses to train instructors from other battalions in the Army and has also helped to train Navy Special Boat Squadron personnel and Air Force Special Strike Group.
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Selection criteria for the Special Forces is inherent to the organization and disqualification criteria used when recruiting and training personnel, however volunteers who wish to join special forces has to under go strenuous training and to be qualified the basic course to become a special forces member. |
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The arrangement of colours in the Special Forces flag is red at the bottom black in the center and red on top and insignia placed on the background. Red at the bottom depicts the adventurous training, good leadership and proper motivation given to the Special Forces on which all their success lies. Red on the top indicates that the Special Forces successfully accomplish their tasks with effective leadership coupled with aggressive and the courageous action. Black in the center indicates that with the characteristics depicted by the two stripes of red the Special Forces having reached a high standard as a fighting force after their rigorous training, approach the enemy secretly achieving the maximum surprise, leading to success.
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| The insignia depicts Eagle has been regarded as symbol of courage and warlike qualities, a sing qua non for any member of the Special Forces. The superior imposition of the eagle indicated the ability the unit of scooping towards its prey. It is well equipped for its task with its hooked beak. Wonderful keen eyes help to locate the target, powerful wings help to rush to the target, curved talons help to grab the target and hooked bear help to destroy the target. All those magnificently adapted to its requirements. |
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Four Sharp Arrows- Placed on the background of the insignia and pointing to either side, depict the regiments basic concept of a 4 – man team and its capability of deep penetration in to enemy territory and operating in small groups whose skills and have been sharpened as and arrows head. Placing them crossing each other is intended to give the idea of combined strength and mutual support within as well as with other forces in all types of operation.
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Placing the sword upright in the center of the badge partially hidden and in combination with sharp arrows alludes to the specialized infantry qualities of the unit and also indicate the aggressive and adventurous nature of its commitments, impartiality, deep penetration capability and the element of physical danger in the tasks allotted to it. |
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The Special Forces Regiment has the distinction of taking part in almost all major offensives conducted by the Army since 1986 and has always contributed immensely, for outweighing the numbers involved in operations. The unique results achieved by the regiment so far have been made possible due to the leadership, dedication and the determination shown by its officers and men.
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The traditions that were moulded by the motto of the regiment “Determined, Dared and Done” were the guiding principles that has made the Regiment an elite force. |
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Truemors
Some Details about Special forces of Sri Lanka
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (7)
at 04:30 on October 26th, 2008
This looks like an advert for the Special Forces! Where is the news value of that? Amnesty International has repeatedly called for the UN to sanction the Sri Lankan authorities over its use of torture. When you say - Special Forces - are these the ones that do the torturing? If I remember correctly these Special Forces were originally commanded by the son of the Prime Minister when the forces were first formed. They may even had played a part in the group known as the Black Cats which used to terrorise the south of Sri Lanka during the battle with the JVP in the early Nineties. At that time, I was staying in Tangalle and I witnessed the casualties (shooting innocent fishermen and burning their bodies as they watched some locals killed) caused by them and it was not very pleasant. Much of this was written up in a book by a Sri Lankan who now works in Dundee (Scotland) with a group devoted to documenting terrorist and so called 'anti-terrorist' terror!
Such an advert as this is propaganda, not news!
at 20:30 on October 26th, 2008
Dear Gerry,
I am not agreed with you about the things you wrote about Special Forces, True that this is not a news and this was published to make our 59th Anniversary of Army which was passed few days ago.
And for your information what is Amnesty International doing, why these all snakes only open there mouth to Sri Lanka or any other developing country comes forwards to its problems. Where is this so called human rights watches when LTTE violate so many times and why still cant any body point out USA what they do and done in Iraq and Afganistan. because i think these all organizations can fuctional when they can have some problems in other countries and the contries are weak to take dissision. So we in Sri Lanka never care about this type of untruth and have no streangth to speak in USA or any other countries organization. Before they speak about us, they should take care of there own problems. Today Us helicopters killed some civilians in Siriya including children and what USAsays it was a normal rading a terrorist out fit. where is this so called Human rights watchers? are the sleeping or just waiting to another to happen?
We are doing a war for our peace and we dont want to know Special forces was engaded in killings of Sri Lankan people. We had that bitter past and now we make all the mistakes one by one. We are not having a war in other cpountry, we want our country to be safe from the terrorist and its suporters.
Thanks for your opinion, and i would say we fight for our country. we dont need India or any other country to come and put their hands and spoil it.
at 08:02 on April 7th, 2009
What a bunch of bull! Be factual and keep your unqualified opinion to yourself. These some of the world's most successful special forces units.
at 02:16 on April 8th, 2009
Dear Gerry
Let me put your records right, SF was never commanded by the son of the prime minister. it was the STF(Special Task Force) formed as a part of Sri Lanka Police. on the subject of Torture, all most all the forces and terrorists groups in the world using these methods to gain information about the other party. UN can sanction countries for doing these things, but can they stop terrorist doing the same for POWs??? i don't think so. further i never heard UN sanctioned USA or UK for torturing POWs. can you tell me why it is only one way? it is funny to see how all these countries react. when we(SL ARMY) regain the control over the terrists they want a seize fire, but when LTTE boming colombo and killing civilians no body cared. this is why it is very important to dis arm LTTE even before we think about a ceasefire. i think UN and other countries should help the government of sri lanka to Dis arm these rutless LTTE and liberate the innocent civilians.
at 07:33 on April 23rd, 2009
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Mr Gerry
I think you should write what you know, not the things you heard from others.
Shame on you! mate
at 05:01 on January 21st, 2009
Gerry,
I presume you are aware that any armed force is under the command of the president. if he orders them to kill civillians the army has to do it. in Germany even though many army men were against the Jewish massacre they had to do it to follow orders and sri lanka is no exception.
As for the Amnesty International. if u look at all the human rights groups in the world they are based in countries where that violated human rights most. e.g the evil army of england killed many civllians in Africa, Nothern Ireland, India and other parts of the world in the process of colonisation. The Gulf war, war in afganisthan, iraq. wars wars wars these countries have done nothing but wars. but Sri Lanka never invaded any country nor it influenced any country in any form. it didnt take part in any war encouraged them. right now we r suffering from a terrorists problem originally encouraged by British. at a time we are trying to get rid of this war please stay away and look at your own country.
at 00:28 on April 8th, 2009
Well said all and thanks for the great coments. Keep writing.