Special Task Force (Sri Lanka)

This article is about the Sri Lankan Counter-Terrorist force. For the Indian Special Task Force, see Special Task Force (India). For the South African police division, see South African Police Service Special Task Force.
Special Task Force
Active1983; 41 years ago (1983)
CountrySri Lanka
BranchSri Lanka Police
TypePolice tactical unit
Size~8000 (2017)[1]
Nickname(s)STF
Motto(s)
  • නියතයි ජය
  • (Sinhala: Victory Assured)
ColoursMarine Green; Gold
Anniversaries1 March
EngagementsSri Lankan Civil War
Second JVP insurrection
Commanders
CommandantWaruna Jayasundara
Inspector General of PoliceDeshabandu Tennakoon
Insignia
Ensign

The Special Task Force (STF) (Sinhala: විශේෂ කාර්ය බලකාය Visesha Karya Balakaya; Tamil: சிறப்பு அதிரடிப் படை) is the tier one police tactical unit of the Sri Lanka Police specialising in anti-irregular military, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, clandestine and covert operations, combat and patrolling in urban areas, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis managements, crowd control, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, indirect fire for support operations, irregular warfare, operating in difficult to access terrain, protecting high-level meeting areas, search and rescue people who are in distress or imminent danger from disaster, support crowd control and riot control, tactical special operations, and other tasks requiring special training. It was formed in 1983 not as a military force, but rather as a highly specialised armed police unit.

  1. ^ "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Sri Lanka". U.S. State Department. 28 February 2005.