SL now safe for tourists due to tightened security: Maj. Gen.

By Shanika Sriyananda

The armed forces said that security following the Easter Sunday coordinated bomb blasts is guaranteed for local and international tourists so they can enjoy their holidays in all parts of the country.

Conducting continuous cordon and search operations in vulnerable areas together with the Police and Tri-Forces, the Overall Combined Operational Command (OCOC) and the Security Forces Headquarters of the Eastern Province have launched special intelligence operations to keep the extremists’ activities at bay.

“OCOC is now conducting various operations, including a lot of intelligence-based military operations, snap roadblocks, and search and cordon operations, in various parts of Colombo and Puttalam districts while other respective Security Forces Headquarters are also having their own special search operations,” said OCOC Commander Major General Sathyapriya Liyanage.

He said that the IS-related National Thowheed Jamath’s (NTJ) activities had been brought down to zero and the remaining members were also not in a position to carry out any terror attacks due to the strengthening of security and intelligence services being kept on high alert.

However, stressing the need for more public alertness on suspicious activities, Maj. Gen. Liyanage said that although terror activities were controlled 100% by the military and Police, the risk of sudden attacks might be possible if the public ignores security measures taken by the armed forces.

“We have not received any information so far of any planned attacks in the future. 

We have the support of the public, especially from the vigilance committees that include religious and community leaders and the prominent State officials in their respective areas, to conduct our military operations,” he said, adding the OCOC has launched community-based public awareness campaigns to ease off the tension between two communities – the Sinhalese and Muslims.

The OCOC chief said that the security provided to schools would be continued and had meetings with school principals to strengthen the coordination between parents and soldiers deployed to provide security to schools.

“The behavior of that parent, who overlooked the advice of the soldier and fought with him, was not acceptable. Parents should not try to play with the soldiers who have been given instructions to react strictly to anyone’s unruly behavior in order to protect schools, which are prime targets of NTJ extremists,” Maj. Gen. Liyanage said, referring to the unfortunate incident where a parent was shot dead by a soldier who was deployed at the Akmeemana Manawila Upananda Vidyalaya, two weeks ago.

The Eastern Province Security Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Aruna Jayasekara also said that tourists coming to the Eastern Province should not have any fears regarding security as it was fully restored with no terror incidents reported in the last two to three months.

He said that the armed forces supported by the Police were conducting continuous search operations while each and every vehicle coming into and leaving the Province are being checked thoroughly for any suspicious goods like explosives and firearms, etc., and people.

“There are several popular tourist destinations in the four districts – Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara and Polonnaruwa – within the Province. The military, together with the Police and the STF, have assured peace in every corner of the Province. Schools, State-sector institutions, and private sector entities are functioning smoothly as normalcy has returned with the strengthening of security in the Province,” he said.

According to Maj. Gen. Jayatilake, there are several roadblocks to monitor people traveling in and out of the Eastern Province.

“All vulnerable areas, including where the mastermind of the Easter Sunday attacks Hassim Zahran lived, are being kept under tough surveillance. Those places are classified and are being monitored to reassure security. We also keep our intelligence services alert on teachings of Madrasas in the Eastern Province to monitor whether they teach radicalised concepts,” he said, stressing the need for re-evaluating the curriculums of Madrasa schools by the Government.

Maj. Gen. Jayatilake said that the military never had any issues with the people in the Province and people belonging to all communities supported the military to conduct search operations.

“Our soldiers are well-briefed on how to respect their rituals and customs when conducting search operations. The military cannot conduct our search operations in isolation as we need help from the people in those areas. Village vigilance committees comprising religious and community leaders, school principals, Grama Niladaris and prominent persons are very important in maintaining security and peace in those villages. We get their maximum support,” he said.

He also said that security has been tightened in major tourist destinations in Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa, which are popular for their fine beaches, archaeological sites, ancient religious sites, and wildlife.