No need to cut army strength-Boniface

http://print.dailymirror.lk/news/front-page-news/36278.html

Monday, 21 February 2011 00:00

By Amadoru Amarajeewa

There was no need to reduce the strength of the armed forces merely because the war was over, the new eastern Commander Major General Boniface Perera said. Addressing a gathering of officers, soldiers of the three armed forces, the Civil Defence Force and Police personnel for the first time after his appointment to the new post in Trincomalee Major General Perera said that now that the security forces had defeated the world’s most ruthless terrorist outfit they had to be prepared to rescue people from natural disasters. He added that the Army alone did not win the war, rather it recaptured the territories captured by the LTTE. with the assistance given by the air force from the air, the navy from the sea and the Civil Defence Force and the police on the ground. “It recaptured the territories captured by the LTTE, with the assistance from the Air Force, Srti Lanka Navy, the Civil Defence Force and the Police,” he said. He asserted the duty of the security forces was not to allow terrorism to raise its ugly head again. Pointing out the deserving right of the people to get the full credit of the war victory as they were the ones who paid the supreme sacrifice towards the war, the new Eastern Commander said that people would not respect the officers of the security forces merely for the medal they wore They would respect the officers if they served them with dedication and commitment, he said.