STF: Who is boss and who is bluffing?

R.W. M.C. Ranawana, Senior Superintendent of Police, Director (Operations) at the Police Special Task Force (STF) has written to The Sunday Times to claim that our last week's report “STF Chief Lewke replaced” appearing on Page 3 is incorrect. His letter is accompanied by a one page document titled ‘STF Press Release.’ It states:

“STF was established in 1983 as the Police Paramilitary Unit. In 1984 September from the Police Department it was transferred to the Ministry of Defence to be directly under Secretary/Defence. In 1995 again STF was transferred back to the Police Department under IG Police. From 1995 to 2006 August, STF functioned directly under I.G. Police with DIG/STF as Commandant. Again last week, on a direction by the Defence Ministry, STF was transferred back to the Police Department under I.G. Police.

“According to the present command structure in the Police Department, every Range DIG has a senior DIG above him. On the same line STF will be under DIG/Range 3 and DIG /STF is the Commandant, STF. At no stage DIG Nimal Lewke was replaced as stated in your news item. He will continue as Commandant/STF.

“Mr. Lewke is a highly qualified professional who had undergone many specialized training Programmes and International Seminars, etc. He has been a member of the STF since its inception and has a wealth of experience and he is the first Senior Gazetted Officer in the Special Task Force to be awarded the Police Gallantry Medal for his outstanding contribution to the national security of this country.”

As the Press Release of Mr. Ranawana SSP confirms, the Special Task Force (STF), which was within the Ministry of Defence, has been brought under the Inspector General of Police. It is therefore not clear whether he (SSP Ranawana) has obtained the approval of either the Ministry of Defence or the Inspector General of Police before issuing this ‘Press Release.’

It is not only for reasons of factual accuracy. Being only an SSP, he is commenting authoritatively on higher departmental procedures and about an officer at a senior level. Such a practice is highly unusual for a Director of Operations at the STF who is answerable to a Commandant.

At 2345 hours (11.45 p.m.) on September 21 the Command Room of the Inspector General of Police sent out a Radio Telephone Message (RTM 1023) to all Senior DIGs, DIGs, All SSP Divisions, both Territorial and Functional. The montage on this page shows the exact text of the official message. With a few errors in English corrected, it reads “Mr. Mahinda Balasuriya, S/DIG Range III is appointed as Commandant STF with immediate effect in addition to his assigned duties. Secretary Defence has assigned all administrative and operational matters of the STF under the purview of IG Police with immediate effect.”

Without question, there have been instances where the STF functioned under a Senior DIG when it was under the purview of the Inspector General of Police. In such instances the Senior DIG has always exercised supervision from Police Headquarters where they are located. That was a routine administrative arrangement.

But this time it is different. Mahinda Balasuriya, Senior DIG, the new Commandant, has moved into an office at STF Headquarters at Bauddhaloka Mawatha. He is to function both from the Police as well as STF Headquarters. He moved into STF Headquarters last Wednesday following a religious ceremony where Pirith was chanted. DIG Lewke was also present.

All senior Police officers were invited to this event which was not open to the media. Soon after his appointment, his first task was to visit the East to make an on-the-spot study of operational matters.

The Sunday Times has learnt that the original plan was to ask Mr. Lewke to vacate his office and re-locate himself at the STF training camp in Gonahena. This move was later changed on appeals made by him. Members of a political party, including a retired DIG, supporting the Government also spoke on his behalf. He will now remain at STF Headquarters. As for his professional qualifications listed by Mr. Ranawana, SSP, The Sunday Times made no references in its news report last week.