Why the Special Forces so deadly

A Sri Lanka Army Special Forces team that posed with President Mahinda Rajapakse in Vakarai many months ago, demonstrates why the SLA Special Forces are a force to be reckoned with. Hardly ever known to advertise its capacity, the unit shows-off for the first time what deadly power they carry into the battle field.

For example, the Officer in the picture below is carrying what appears to be a Heckler and Koch MP5SD Sub Machine Gun (SMG). This gun, which is one of the world's most accurate SMGs is popular among many SF units throughout the world. It is 'Sound Dampened' and only emits a sound similar to a stapler (see video)

H&K MP5SD

But, by far the most dangerous weapon the team is carrying is a Multiple Grenade Launcher. The South African Milkor MGL is a force multiplier on its own. It can destroy anything from infantry to vehicles.

Milkor MGL in the hands of the SF

The weapon is a product of Milkor/Ripple Effect company and uses 40mm grenades with High Explosive (HE) Fragmentation Warheads with close to 400m range. It has an infra-red (IR) enabled Trijicon Armson Occluded Eye Gunsight (OEG) enabling night fighting. The MGL can fire 6 40mm rounds in under 20 seconds.

Milkor (SA) MGL

The latest generation of this weapon includes the M-32 MGL (MGL-140) and the XRGL40 extended range MGL manufactured by Milkor USA with up to 800m range thanks also to a longer barrel. Capable of firing HE rounds, the MGL can use a new type of grenade called the 'Hell Hound' (see video). It also uses an ingenious method known as HUNTIR or a High Altitude Unit Navigated Tactical Imaging Round affectionately known as the 'footsoldiers' UAV' (M-32 video 2)

One of the soldiers in the team (pictured below) is carrying a PKM Light Machine Gun (LMG). An educated guess would be that the LMG is Chinese (NORINCO- China North Industries Corp). It however is also similar to the Kalashnikov PK-LMG.

A Russian (Kalashnikov) PK-LMG

This Special Forces soldier is wearing an ALICE Pack (All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment). He and the rest of the team are wearing uniforms with a patchwork of Advantage Camo used in hunting. The brown hunting camo in the green background would fit well in the green and earth coloured terrain these men fight in.

SF soldier wearing an Advantage Camo patchwork uniform, ALICE and holding a Chinese PK LMG with 100 round belt

Navy rescued 71 illegal immigrants in the suspicious vessel-2nd Lead

Navy found 71 illegal immigrants in the suspicious vessel drifting over seas off Mulativu from 150 nautical miles northeast from the island, Navy Headquarters confirmed.
50 Myanmar nationals and 21 Bangladeshis were found in the vessel,when the Sri Lankan Navy patrol crafts and war ships cordoned it early this morning.
The vessel was drifting for about ten days after it detected an engine failure.
20 immigrants-17 Myanmar nationals and 03 Bangladeshis-were dead during that time and their bodies were thrown in to the sea according to rescued immigrants.
The vessel left from Myanmar on 09th February to sail for Malaysia or Thailand,Navy officials said.
Earlier navy suspect the drifting vessel was a one which transporting arms to the LTTE.
Rescued illegal immigrants are now being taken in to Trincomalee harbour by the Navy.

Navy cordoned a ship off Mulativu

Sri Lanka Navy has cordoned a suspicious ship off Mulativu coast,approximately 150 Nautical Miles,senior navy officials said.
"Naval vessels cordoned the ship and about to begin checking" a high ranking navy official told defencewire on the condition of anonymity.
80 meters long suspicious ship was seen last night with sails according to the same source.
How ever it is unlikely to be a LTTE's arms shipment,according to a highly placed intelligence source.