Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration
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Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration (TAFII) is a task force deployed by the Sri Lanka Army from 1963 from 1981 to counter illegal immigration from South India. It was the first field formation deployed by the Ceylon Army and had its headquarters at Palaly.[1]
TAFII originated from "Operations Monty" named after then Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of External Affairs and Defense, Major Montague Jayawickrama in 1952 to stop illegal immigration of Indian Tamils repatriated to India after they were refused citizenship by the government of Ceylon. In 1963, operation was renamed as Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration as a formation in support of Royal Ceylon Navy coastal patrols and police operations. Initially army contribution was known as "Army Force M" consisted of an infantry battalion with support units based in the coast of Mannar. The task force had its headquarters at Palaly and had units deployed from Mollikulam point to Kokilai. There were army camps in Silavathurai, Thalladi, Talaimannar, Pooneryn, Valvettithurai, Madagala, Thondamannar, Mulleitivu and Kokilai. In addition several smaller detachments of 5-10 soldiers each were located. After 1972, TAFII shifted its focus to counter insurgency operations with the raise of the Tamil militancy. It was disbanded in 1980 with the on set of the Sri Lankan Civil War and was replaced by the Task Force 4 Northern Command.[2]
Past Commanding officers, Ops Monty
Past Commanders TAFII
- Colonel Sepala Attygalle 1963-1965[4]
- Colonel M P Jayaweera 1965-1966
- Colonel P. D. Ramayanayake 1969-1970
- Colonel E. T. De Z Abeysekera 1970-1971
- Colonel B. K. V. J. E. Rodrigo 1971-1972
- Colonel Tissa Weeratunga 1972-1976[5]
- Colonel Henry Athukorale 1976-1977
- Colonel M Medawala 1977-1977
- Colonel G D Fernando 1977-1978
Notable Members
- General Nalin Seneviratne - former staff officer, TAFII[6]
- Lt. General Denzil Kobbekaduwa - former staff officer, TAFII[7]
- Lt. Colonel Gotabaya Rajapaksa - former signals officer, TAFII
- Brigadier M. H. Gunaratne - Officer Commanding Troops, TAFII
- Major General D.W. Hapuarachchi - Officer Commanding Troops, TAFII
- Lt. Colonel Bertie Dias - Officer Commanding Troops, TAFII
References
- ^ Task Force Anti-Illicit Immigration
- ^ An evolving army and its role through time
- ^ An evolving army and its role through time
- ^ Into the turbulence of Jaffna
- ^ TI WEERATHUNGA VSV ndc jssc (Retd) REMEMBERED. Archived 2015-06-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ GENERAL G.D.G.N. SENEVIRATNE (RETD) VSV NDC Archived 2009-08-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ General Denzil L. Kobbekaduwa - a hero and genuine leader