Sting Operation that saved thousands of lives

Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order

Weeks after achieving a tremendous victory against the terrorists in overt warfare at the battle of Vakarai, Sri Lanka security forces scored another triumph; this time in covert warfare by unravelling a bloody LTTE coupe against SL citizens.

The troops engaged in counter-terror operations in Colombo arrested a group of left wing extremists who were carrying out attacks at the innocent civilians in the South, to support the sinister motives of the LTTE. A large haul of arms and ammunitions were also uncovered during the operation that started about ten months back. This brief note is to acknowledge the noble effort of those brave sons and the daughters of SL Armed forces who saved thousands of lives through their commitment, courage and sheer determination. Unless for their sleepless nights spent out in the streets, long stretches of painful patience under the hot sun, and above all, for their witty brains; none of us in the South would be able to live in peace.

A sting operation is a kind of clandestine manoeuvre undertaken by the law enforcement authorities to crackdown on criminals. These operations require the members of the security forces to play roles as the criminals with the similar capacity or as their victims. Thereby they have to win the confidence over the criminals and finally to obtain their secrets. The personnel involved need higher level of intelligence and creativity to mange extremely risky situation that often arise during the process. In other words a sting operation is a real life thriller for those who involved in it.

Though the details of clandestine operations are rarely made known to the public the government had to disclose most of the proceedings of this particular operation amid pressures developed by the anti Sri Lankan movements. These vicious forces who call themselves in all the best names found in the dictionary such as "anti-war, free-media, civil monitors" and etc, have been making serious calumniations against the government that it is running a state terror. This is the same allegation, which is being incessantly wailed by the LTTE propaganda machinery to hoodwink the international community on the actual situation in the country.

However, these forces were hoisted with their own petard, as the government released the video footage of the confessions made by the terror suspects.

It is not very recently, the intelligence wing of the counter - terror forces got to know about a coalition of several groups who have been assisting the LTTE terrorists since the beginning of the ethnic conflict. These groups, though intriguingly demonstrate highly polarised opinions and interests over the ethnic issue, have managed to achieve perfect harmony with regard to their activities in aiding and abetting terrorism.

For instance, one group consists of extreme rightwing business tycoons who would go to any extent to make money. Linked to the same group there exist another group consists some religious frenzies who make money through religious conversions. The third group, consists of some leftwing extremist who show Anti- American, Anti Globalization and revolutionary ideas and led by few bankrupt politicians with zero vote base. These two different groups with rivalry ideologies have been bridged by the fourth group that includes a partnership of some media institutions and foreign NGOs. These media institutions do the propaganda work by bringing the two contradictory forces to a common forum while the NGOs generously fund both the media men and leftwing extremist groups to keep them afloat.

Irrespective of their ideological differences, these forces that are now being identified as "Anti- Sri Lankan Forces" have agreed to act upon one objective; that is to ensure that the present ethnic conflict will never be ended. It is also reliably understood that these forces are striving hard to turn the bloody internal conflict to a border conflict, so that their life lines will be further secured.

Strategies adopted by the vicious coalition seemed to have given a prominent place to the mass media. Some of them run slanderous newspapers, TV/Radio channels and websites targeting the national leadership, rival political parties and the security forces. Some makes films, dramas and write books to create an opinion among the public against whatever the force acting against the terrorists. Ironically, these mean spirited people rally themselves under the most righteous slogans like "freedom", "Peace", "human rights" and etc, but keep dead silence with regard to the rights of innocent victims of LTTE terrorism.

Until recently, these forces have been able to conceal the gory crimes of the LTTE through their mendacious propaganda works. However, the bold steps taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to disclose the true nature of the LTTE to the whole world have made them to add more rage to their menacing campaigns. It is under this backdrop, a group of anti social extremists or rather lunatics were being allured to the main coalition to further its abominable coup.

Early in the year 2006, it was reported to the counter-terror units through their contacts in media and trade unions that a certain group of journalists were having close relationships with the underworld. Having probed into the allusion it was also known that this group had already sold C-4 explosives and weapons to the underworld gangs taking large sum of money. However, no concrete evidence could be obtained to make an arrest.

Meanwhile, suspicions were made on how these journalists could get hold of such arms and ammunitions. The counter-terror officials then decide to launch a major sting operation to find out any LTTE links to the particular group. Few intelligence operatives were infiltrated to the trade unions and media circles where the suspects were often seen in action. Within few months the operatives could not only acquaint with the junior members of the suspected group, but also managed to obtain the membership of the fanatic movement.

The first breakthrough came in August 2006. The intelligence operatives got to know that the outfit had sold claymore mines full of C-4 explosives to an underworld gang for a large amount of money. It was also known that when the underworld gang had asked for high explosives the suspects had gave them a claymore mine instead, and asked them to extract the explosives. It was only then, the suspicions were confirmed with regard to the LTTE links to the group since no other group used claymore mines and C-4 explosives in SL than the LTTE.

Then the intelligence officials started to study the group dynamics of the suspected group to find out how and why it was operated. According to their findings, the group consisted of few individuals who displayed extreme anti social behaviour. All of them were either, journalists, artists or trade union activists and had some involvement in media. The group which was at its evolving stage was recruiting people with similar behavioural problems to expand its operations. It had an LTTE advocated structure, namely Political, Military and Administrative wings to ensure its smooth operations. Interestingly, most of them had no previous criminal records or showed anxiety and did not feel guilt for their crimes. They were for the outside quite normal except for their desire for attention.

According to the psychological view anti social personalities are not defined only in the particular acts they perform. They always seem to be participating in a game in which other human beings exist as pieces to be manipulated and utilized and it is this game playing that leads these people to get into trouble with the law. At their worst, these people can be cruel, sadistic and violent. Nevertheless, the existence of this group was not alone. Its existence was not only well known to the above mentioned vicious coalition but also supported by them.

As the intelligence officials got more understanding of the group's dynamics, they could get much closer to the suspects by imitating their behaviour and interests. The first recovery of arms made on the 26th of November 2006 at Meerigama. Seven claymore mines each weighing 2kg and 18kg of C-4 high explosives were found hidden underground in a barrel. The items were found in an unoccupied land close to one of the suspect's residence. This recovery was not made known to the public since it would have disrupted the operation. However, the details of the leadership of the group were still unknown to the officials.

The modus operandi of the group with regard to the arms was to distribute them among its members. Only the leadership knew the full distribution list. Thus, the officials had to make close contacts with the suspects, one by one to get the full details of their operations.

The second recovery was made at Mahara on the 29th of January 2007. One claymore mine weighing 1kg , three improvised electric detonators(Time bombs/IEDs), 364 of T-56 bullets, 27m of detonator code , two electrical detonators and 1kg of C-4 explosives were found hidden in a garbage pit on a barren land. This recovery was also kept undercover in order to keep the operation going ahead.

As the second recovery was made, the anti Sri Lankan Forces became worried about their safety. Members belonging to each group started suspecting each other and the situation was followed by a series of "abductions" and "disappearances" of certain people in the Colombo and its suburbs. Though none of these abducted or disappeared persons were known to the law enforcement authorities, the media elements of these forces again point their finger at the security forces saying that they were responsible for the situation.

In the mean time, the under cover operatives could obtain further details of the group. They were shocked to know that this group was planning to carryout a major attack at the South to coincide with LTTE attacks in the North and East. The ultimate aim of the organization which called itself "The People's Revolution Movement" is to seize the power of the country with the assistance of the LTTE. Yet, as the operatives drew much nearer to the leadership, it was understood the group was actually making money out of the LTTE rather than planning for any social change.

Meanwhile, a sudden scourge of violence spread in the south with number of bomb explosions targeting VIPs and innocent civilians. This also includes number of failed attacks and recoveries that had no clear link to the focus operation. By this time the officials could develop close contacts with the leader and his two key companions of the movement. It was from them the officials got to know that this group had undergone training under the LTTE. It was the leader himself who revealed the details of the rest of the operation to the officials.

By this time, the group was preparing to get down an LTTE explosive expert from Killinochchi to train its members on explosive handling. Having agreed to the group's request the LTTE had also ordered the group to find safe houses for three suicide bombers scheduled to be sent along with explosive expert. As several members of the groups had their soft corners to the LTTE's demand on suicide bombers, the leadership himself had asked from the undercover agents for assistance. When asked what plans he had in mind the leadership had revealed his gruesome master plan that included bombing at South bond 'Samudra Devi" train, assassinations of VIPs, instilling fear psychosis on civilians by carrying out small scale explosions, and launching a large scale propaganda mission to tarnish the good image of the security forces. He also proudly introduced him as the editor of Sinhalese weekly journal "Dedunna" which had been published since late 90s in Jaffna to demoralise the soldiers.

With these shocking revelations, the counter terror troops realised that it was high time to wind up the operation. The three key suspects were arrested on Monday the 5th of February and a large haul of deadly weapons were also found flowing the arrest. The rest of the operation is now known to the public. Three more suspects have now been arrested from Mavaramandiya and Minuwangoda areas. The full list of the items recovered so far during the operation is as follows:

 

ITEM	QUANTITY	LOCATION
Claymore mines (2 kg)	7	Meerigama
C-4 (Plastic high explosives)	18kg
Claymore mine (1kg)	1	Mahara
C-4 (Plastic high explosives)	2kg
Electric IEDs	3
T-56 rounds	364
Detonator code	27m
Claymore stands	1
Electric detonators	2
C-4 (Plastic high explosives)	6kg	Horana/ Mavaramandiya
T-56 Assault Rifles	4
T-56 magazines	18
T-56 Rounds	540
Micro pistols	2
Micro pistol magazines	4
Micro pistol rounds	146
Claymore Mines (2kg)	2
Pistol rounds (9mm)	50
Shot gun rounds	8
Hand grenades	17
Electric detonators	50
T-56 Assault Rifle	1	Nuwaraeliya
T-56 magazines	2
T-56 rounds	60
Micro pistol	1
Micro pistol magazines	2
Pistol (9mm)	1	Dematagoda
Pistol (9mm) magazines	2
Pistol rounds (9mm)	49
Rambo knives	3
Documents of the LTTE	1 set
Micro cassette	1
Detonator codes	36m	Kotadeniyawa
Detonators	29
Motorbike	1	Kadawatha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, what needs public attention is that this operation by no means could stop the activities of the vast network of anti Sri Lankan force. The immediate response of certain parties to the arrest, if studied closely one can identify how these forces operate freely across the country. For instance, certain leading figures who incessantly talk about the rights of LTTE suspects were extremely careful to not to show their faces to the media with regard to this incident. Meanwhile, some groups were preparing for a general strike demanding the release of the terror suspects while the others organizing protest campaigns. It is now crystal clear that these groups had no interest on the safety of their former companions; what they really wanted to know was the extent the government had unravel their coupe. But, to be precise they were quite unsuccessful. The counter -terror forces will continue to follow the conspirators as long as they act treacherous to the nation.

A free media can flourish only in a terror free society. Communalism is the greatest threat to the fabric of our free society and to the nation's solidarity. It is the duty of the press to help promote unity and cohesion in the hearts and minds of the people, and refrain from publishing material tending to support and organization that operates under acute racist ideologies as the LTTE.

Defence.lk website would like to warn peace loving citizen to be extra vigilant on what is happening around them .The conspiracy perpetrated by the anti Sri Lankan forces is seemingly gaining its fullest thrust as the LTTE has been drawn nearer to its end than ever before in the history. It is the time, for us to be united and save our motherland.