Sri Lanka’s elite Police force to handle security for SAARC summit in Maldives

Sri Lanka’s elite Police Special Task Force (STF) units are slated to provide part of the security for the 17 SAARC summit to be held in Maldives next month, according to a report in Haveeru online.

The STF soldiers, specialised in counter terrorism operations and VIP security, are to be deployed for the summit that is to take place in Addu City in November.

According to the Haveeru report, Sri Lanka will also be sending specially trained K-9 dogs to detect explosives.  A senior STF official has said that the plan to send the elite force personnel was a result of the unit’s recent international exposure in similar occasions.

“The Maldivian Government from the beginning had made arrangements for the deployment of the STF.

                

Based on the cooperation both countries share in terms of security, it was decided to send a contingent of STF commandoes to the Maldives for the upcoming SAARC summit,” the official was quoted.

Maldivian authorities plan to deploy the STF units and the dogs in and around the location of the summit, especially to the hall where the main conference is to take place.

The Sri Lankan elite Police unit has been called to provide security to special international events, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Recently special training programmes have been taking place in Colombo for STF personnel and the Police dogs that are due to be deployed for the summit, the Haveeru reported.