Last week’s armed forces’ parade marking the 61st Independence anniversary highlighted the enormous investment the Rajapaksa administration had made on the armaments as well as the infantry, two critical ingredients in the combined security forces campaign against the LTTE.

Israeli, Russian and Chinese jets of the SLAF launched from Katunayake roared at high speed through the sky over Galle Face, disappearing into the horizon in seconds as a sail-past led by two Offshore Patrol Craft (OPVs) acquired from India displayed their prowess in the blue coastal waters.

This was part of the impressive parade by the fighting forces, particularly the infantry, Special Forces, Commandos and the Special Boat Squadron.

Except for the Chinese F7 interceptors and armoured fighting vehicles acquired for the Mechanised Infantry Regiment and locally made boats, almost all other armaments had been acquired by previous administrations.

A senior military official told The Sunday Island that the government had increased the firepower of the armed forces but essentially there was no major deviation in the type of the principal armaments used in the current phase of the war.

Responding to questions, he said that major ships, fast attack craft, jets, main battle tanks, artillery and multi barrel rocket launchers delivered years ago were in use.

Army Chief Lt. General Sarath Fonseka recently told The Sunday Island that recruitment of over 80,000 youth, particularly to the fighting regiments played a critical role in the victory over the LTTE.