Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration

Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration (TFAII) 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.^[1]

TFAII originated from "Operations Monty" named after then Minister of External Afars 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 a infantry battalion with support units based in the coast of Mannar. After 1972, TFAII shifted its focus to counter insurgency operations with the raise of the Tamil militancy. It was disbanded in 1981 with the on set of the Sri Lankan Civil War.^[2]

Notable members

• Maj. General H. W. G. Wijeyekoon - former commander of TFAII^[3]
• General Sepala Attygalle - former commander of TFAII^[4]
• General Tissa Weeratunga - former commander of TFAII^[5]
• General Nalin Seneviratne - former staff officer, TFAII^[6]
• Lt. General Denzil Kobbekaduwa - former staff officer, TFAII^[7]

References

1. Task Force Anti-Illicit Immigration
2. An evolving army and its role through time
3. An evolving army and its role through time
4. Into the turbulence of Jaffna
5. TI WEERATHUNGA VSV ndc jssc (Retd) REMEMBERED.
6. GENERAL G.D.G.N. SENEVIRATNE (RETD) VSV NDC
7. General Denzil L. Kobbekaduwa - a hero and genuine leader