State Intelligence Service (Sri Lanka)
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1984, as the National Intelligence Bureau |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Sri Lanka |
| Headquarters | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Ministry of Defence |
The State Intelligence Service (SIS) is an intelligence agency of the Sri Lankan government.[2][3] It is tasked with both internal and external intelligence-gathering and comes under the purview of the Ministry of Defence. The agency was originally named National Intelligence Bureau.
History
Until 1984, the Sri Lanka Police were responsible for internal intelligence functions, first under the Special Branch, and later under the Intelligence Services Division.[citation needed] The perceived failure of the Intelligence Services Division during the riots of July 1983 led the J.R. Jayawardene Government to re-evaluate the nation's intelligence network, and in 1984 the President set up a National Intelligence Bureau.[citation needed] The new organization combined intelligence units from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police.[4] It was renamed the State Intelligence Service in 2006.
LTTE agents successfully infiltrated Sri Lankan government and military organisations resulting in the assassinations of several high-ranking military personnel, including Major Tuan Mutalif and Colonel Tuan Meedin both of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, putting Sri Lankan intelligence services in a desperate condition.[citation needed] Under the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa the intelligence agencies that were in desperate condition built-up a cohesive apparatus, which achieved significant success, including anti-LTTE operations overseas and the SIS played huge role in the Fourth Ealam war.[5]
In January 2015 the Director of the SIS, Chandra Wakista, resigned following the Presidential election, amid allegations of phone tapping of opposition politicians.[6] In March Nilantha Jayawardena was appointed as the SIS Director.[1]
Directorates
- Directorate of Internal Intelligence
- Directorate of Foreign Intelligence
Operations
Kumaran Pathmanathan aka KP, who was involved in arms procurement for LTTE, was captured in Malaysia and moved to Sri Lanka via Thailand by this Agency.[7]
Recently some former LTTE members were captured from Southeast Asian countries and moved to Sri Lanka by State Intelligence Service and Military Intelligence Corps (Sri Lanka) of Sri Lanka Army together.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Nilantha appointed SIS chief". Sri Lankan Mirror. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ Fuard, Asif (6 January 2008). "Slashing of security and the slaying of a politico". Sunday Times.
- ^ Jeyaraji, D. B. S. "Tigers sustain three-pronged strategy". The Nation.
- ^ SRI LANKA - A Country Study
- ^ http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20100517_02
- ^ "Intelligence Chief Quits". Sri Lanka Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ Athas, Iqbal (9 August 2009). "KP- he knows secrets that have never been told". Sunday Times.