DATE=8/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKA / ARMY COMMANDER (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265851
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Sri Lanka's new army commander Lionel
Balagalle says a shortage of manpower is the biggest
difficulty facing his country's army, which has been
locked in long-running conflict with separatist Tamil
rebels. Vandana Chopra has more from Colombo.
TEXT: Lieutenant General Lionel Balagalle says the
Sri Lankan army's manpower needs to be strengthened,
weaponry needs to be modernized and soldiers need
better training.
Addressing the media on his first day as top army
commander, General Balagalle said that without proper
manpower it will be difficult for the military to
achieve its goals.
Last November, thousands of soldiers deserted their
camps in the northern Wanni region after a fierce
attack by rebel guerillas.
With the desertion rate at high levels, the government
last month conducted a special round up to track down
18-thousand soldiers who did not respond to a
government amnesty.
Past military recruiting drives have also had poor
results, forcing the government to ask volunteers,
retired officers and reserves to sign up to fight the
tamil tiger rebels.
Military officials have in the past said the army
needs 20-thousand more men to boost its campaign
against the rebels.
However, the new army commander has ruled out
conscription, saying it was difficult to make soldiers
fight if they were not motivated.
There has been no heavy fighting in recent weeks since
the military blocked a rebel takeover of their former
stronghold in the northern Jaffna region.
Tiger rebels say their goals for recapturing Jaffna
remains unchanged and the new army commander says he
expects the rebels to launch fresh attacks as
parliamentary elections approach on October 10th.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are fighting for
a separate Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka's north and
east. (Signed)
NEB/VC/KBK/KL
25-Aug-2000 09:36 AM EDT (25-Aug-2000 1336 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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