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Sri Lanka says will boost size of post-war armed forces

by lalith | June 30, 2009 at 05:30 am

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COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka plans to add at least 50,000 people to its security forces to help control territory won back from Tamil Tiger separatists in the 25-year war that ended in May, the government said on Tuesday.

The move could further complicate the country's efforts to get an International Monetary Fund loan seen as an important sign of foreign support and a boost for its economy and markets.

Sri Lanka's military and police, with a combined strength of 350,000, won one of the Asia's longest modern wars and declared total victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and its leaders on May 18.

"We are planning to recruit at least 50,000 for army, navy, air force and police," Keheliya Rambukwella, defence spokesman and a government minister, said in the first security media briefing since the end of the war.

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sivakaran

at 10:52 on June 30th, 2009

I am adding missing content to the story posted:

Foreign diplomats have questioned the need for an increased post-war military, already boosted since 2005 to the size needed to finish off the LTTE's de facto standing army of fighters, replete with artillery, boats and planes.

"We need them to administer the 16,000 sq km (6,178 sq mile) liberated from LTTE control and the two-thirds of the sea area which was under the threat of the LTTE," Rambukwella said.

The plan could be a new drag on Sri Lanka's efforts to get a $1.9 billion (1.15 billion pound) IMF loan, already delayed in political wrangling with Western nations angry Sri Lanka refused their calls to slow the final offensive and beat back moves to launch international probes into possible war crimes.

Western diplomats say that rather than finance increased security forces, more money should be channeled towards redevelopment and post-war infrastructure building.

lalith

at 11:17 on June 30th, 2009

Thanks Sivakaran. Appreciate it.

Yes, Western nations may be angry because Sri Lanka refused their calls to slow the final offensive (so that Prabhakaran and his batmen could escape). The days when Sri Lanka would bow down to these bullies are gone. There could be a drag on the IMF loan. But, Sri Lanka is not begging for it.

We need them to administer the 16,000 sq km (6,178 sq mile) liberated from LTTE control and the two-thirds of the sea area which was under the threat of the LTTE,"

Of course. It is not liberating the land from the lowest of low scum of the earth, but there is a requirement to hold it until the people of the areas could start living a normal life.

When cockroaches are found in a house, certain measures are taken to eliminate the menace. After they are eliminated, one can't be complacent about it. The prevention process has to continue for some time for 100% success. Then one must make sure they don't breed again.

Same with the LTTE.

MPusshpam

at 19:54 on July 1st, 2009

I think firstly, the house shld have been kept clean & becoz it was not kept so, came the roaches. If at all the house was well maintained from the beginning, there wuldn't have been any roaches. Thus u don't have to go thru all the trouble & hassle of eliminating them. Prevention shld have been done before it happened & not after. Anyway, how do u prevent them from showing up again? Not by using insecticides but again, by cleaning up. Until u don't tidy up, roaches wouldn't stop coming by. U wuldn't stop spending for the insecticide & u can't live peacefully. For a change to come, we have to change!!!