Sri Lankan security forces personnel in the Jaffna peninsula are facing tremendous hardships when going on leave due to a serious shortage of transport facilities, The Island newspaper reported this week.
According to military officials lack of proper logistics to go on leave and return is an important reason for desertions from the Sri Lankan military, the paper said.
About 1,600 security personnel were stranded at the strategic Palaly airbase as of May 24, the paper reported, adding some troops had been languishing at the base for several days, without flights or ship sailings to go home.
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) had operated only two flights to Palaly on May 22 and there had been no flights at all on the following day, the paper said, illustrating the problem.
The SLAF is struggling to meet the transportation demands of the Army with only a single Ukrainian built AN 32 in operation, with all other aircraft suitable for transportation being grounded for servicing.
The SLAF inducted AN 32s into active service in 1995 following the LTTE shooting down the aging HS 748 Avros in April 1995. The AN 32 is currently the workhorse of the SLAF transport fleet.
"The absence of suitable transport is one of the primary reasons for desertions," a junior officer told the Island.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the junior officer expressed serious concern over what he termed as the deteriorating standards in transporting men to and from the peninsula.
"It’s a continuing nightmare," he said, accusing the Sri Lankan government of turning a blind eye to their plight. In fact successive governments had failed to meet this particular requirement, he said.
The Sri Lankan forces rely on air and sea routes to transport men and material to the northern Jaffna peninsula under their control as the land route is cut off by the Vanni region which is under LTTE control.
The A9 highway which links the government held Vavuniya and Jaffna towns runs through the vast Vanni region.
In 1997, having captured Jaffna, the Sri Lankan military launched a disastrous 18 month long operation to establish a supply route to the northern peninsula through Vanni.
Operation Jaya Sikuru (Victory Assured) cost thousands of troops and 18 months of gains were completely lost in a matter of days when the LTTE pushed the army back to its original positions November 1999.
Since then SLAF flights between Ratmalana and Palali and sea supply route maintained by the Sri Lanka navy (SLN) between the eastern port town of Trincomalee and Kankesanturai in Jaffna have been the lifeline for forces deployed in Jaffna.
A cross section of officers interviewed by the Island wanted the government to formulate a plan to meet the urgent requirement of troop transfers.
While a colossal amount of foreign exchange is being squandered on luxury vehicles for politicians, officials and their henchmen and foreign jaunts, the Sri Lankan security forces are forced to experience untold misery, they told the Island.
The paper further added that although married officers and men are given priority with a week’s leave after a month, the unbelievably chaotic situation has ensured that the vast majority of men are denied home leave at decent intervals.
In fact, most of them are given leave once in about three months, they said, emphasizing the difficulties faced by them when returning to their bases in the peninsula.
The Island learns that troops languish for days at the Ratmalana transit camp before being airlifted to Palaly.
And in some instances, troops are moved overland from Ratmalana to Trincomalee to be transported by sea.
But in Trincomalee also troops are forced to suffer a few more days before being put on board a ship which is capable of carrying about 3200 personnel, the paper said.
With the sea supply lines under strain, due to risk of LTTE attack, the SLAF has been also tasked with transporting fresh rations.
As commanding officers and officers holding senior appointments are given priority, the ordinary men faced further delays.
A soldier who goes on leave takes about a month to come back, reported the Island.
According to the The Island unscrupulous gangs operate near military transit camps. Men who languish at these points for days sometimes end up pawning their wristwatches, gold chains and bracelets.
"Don’t forget that the vast majority come from the provinces and they have no option but to remain until they are transported."
According to military officials lack of proper logistics to go on leave and return is an important reason for desertions from the Sri Lankan military, the paper said.
About 1,600 security personnel were stranded at the strategic Palaly airbase as of May 24, the paper reported, adding some troops had been languishing at the base for several days, without flights or ship sailings to go home.
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) had operated only two flights to Palaly on May 22 and there had been no flights at all on the following day, the paper said, illustrating the problem.
The SLAF is struggling to meet the transportation demands of the Army with only a single Ukrainian built AN 32 in operation, with all other aircraft suitable for transportation being grounded for servicing.
The SLAF inducted AN 32s into active service in 1995 following the LTTE shooting down the aging HS 748 Avros in April 1995. The AN 32 is currently the workhorse of the SLAF transport fleet.
"The absence of suitable transport is one of the primary reasons for desertions," a junior officer told the Island.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the junior officer expressed serious concern over what he termed as the deteriorating standards in transporting men to and from the peninsula.
"It’s a continuing nightmare," he said, accusing the Sri Lankan government of turning a blind eye to their plight. In fact successive governments had failed to meet this particular requirement, he said.
The Sri Lankan forces rely on air and sea routes to transport men and material to the northern Jaffna peninsula under their control as the land route is cut off by the Vanni region which is under LTTE control.
The A9 highway which links the government held Vavuniya and Jaffna towns runs through the vast Vanni region.
In 1997, having captured Jaffna, the Sri Lankan military launched a disastrous 18 month long operation to establish a supply route to the northern peninsula through Vanni.
Operation Jaya Sikuru (Victory Assured) cost thousands of troops and 18 months of gains were completely lost in a matter of days when the LTTE pushed the army back to its original positions November 1999.
Since then SLAF flights between Ratmalana and Palali and sea supply route maintained by the Sri Lanka navy (SLN) between the eastern port town of Trincomalee and Kankesanturai in Jaffna have been the lifeline for forces deployed in Jaffna.
A cross section of officers interviewed by the Island wanted the government to formulate a plan to meet the urgent requirement of troop transfers.
While a colossal amount of foreign exchange is being squandered on luxury vehicles for politicians, officials and their henchmen and foreign jaunts, the Sri Lankan security forces are forced to experience untold misery, they told the Island.
The paper further added that although married officers and men are given priority with a week’s leave after a month, the unbelievably chaotic situation has ensured that the vast majority of men are denied home leave at decent intervals.
In fact, most of them are given leave once in about three months, they said, emphasizing the difficulties faced by them when returning to their bases in the peninsula.
The Island learns that troops languish for days at the Ratmalana transit camp before being airlifted to Palaly.
And in some instances, troops are moved overland from Ratmalana to Trincomalee to be transported by sea.
But in Trincomalee also troops are forced to suffer a few more days before being put on board a ship which is capable of carrying about 3200 personnel, the paper said.
With the sea supply lines under strain, due to risk of LTTE attack, the SLAF has been also tasked with transporting fresh rations.
As commanding officers and officers holding senior appointments are given priority, the ordinary men faced further delays.
A soldier who goes on leave takes about a month to come back, reported the Island.
According to the The Island unscrupulous gangs operate near military transit camps. Men who languish at these points for days sometimes end up pawning their wristwatches, gold chains and bracelets.
"Don’t forget that the vast majority come from the provinces and they have no option but to remain until they are transported."
