The SL Army’s Land Warfare Campaign in 2006-09: Debating the Lines of Strategic Emphasis
HALANGODE FOUR: Retd Brig. Hiran Halangode’s Clarification**
This account deals with the question of the re-organization of the Infantry Battalions and a gradual expansion of the SIOT concept since 2002.
I start with the raising of the Ceylon Army and its evolution up-to 1983 in brief. The Army was raised to defend Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity whilst the external threat was to be met by the British Forces deployed in Ceylon. Note our INTERNAL DEFENCE was primarily the Ceylon Army’s responsibility. Our Army’s primary tasks were to tackle the trade union and leftist agitations, strikes and work disruptions which affected our supply of essential services, distribution of food from the port and our daily life. Continue reading
