Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (Sri Lanka)

The date of formation of the LRRP remains classified but is believed to have influenced the LTTE to enter the ceasefire agreement with the Government in 2002 to cease LRRP activities. LRRP activities were ceased. The military believed that the targeting of high-profile LTTE leadership by the LRRP was a prominent factor in prompting the LTTE to agree for negotiations.[2]

The existence of LRRP was revealed as a result of a raid on 2 January 2002, when a police team led by SP Kulasiri Udugampola raided an LRRP safehouse in Athurugiriya, a suburb close to the capital, Colombo under the belief of an assassination plot on the leaders of the recently elected United National Party government. Six personnel were arrested, including Captain Nilam, the leader of the unit. Four soldiers and a former LTTE cadre were also arrested. In addition, a number of weapons were taken into custody, including explosives, anti-tank and thermobaric weapons. Details of this raid and the weapons were made public through media. Attempts by the military hierarchy to get the arrested personnel released failed, and Army commander Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalla issued a public statement revealing the true nature of this unit. The arrested personnel were released only after interrogation on 13 January, under orders from Defence Minister Tilak Marapana, who expressed outrage over the police raid.[3]

Soon after the incident, LTTE began a campaign to eliminate the personnel those who were suspected of assisting LRRP.[4] A key informant of the unit, known as Mike, was abducted and killed by the LTTE on 20 January. More than 80 persons involved with the LRRP were assassinated after this. The newly elected government did not take any significant measures to stop it, and requests made by the state intelligence agencies were ignored on the basis that it will affect the ceasefire.[4]

The Army Commander, under the direction of the Defence Minister, appointed a Court of Inquiry to investigate the activities of the LRRP. The conclusion of the court of inquiry was that their activities were legitimate and all military hardware found was obtained through legitimate means. As the public controversy on this incident and the killings continued, President Chandrika Kumaratunga appointed a Commission of Inquiry to probe the safehouse raid. The commission's conclusion was that in addition to compromising national security interests, the raid was a "total betrayal and absolute treachery to the nation". The report included a list of officers of the police and army responsible for the incident.[4]

A special team was set up by the Chief of Police to investigate into the actions of Udugampola and several other police officers.

After the ceasefire was canceled and hostilities resumed in 2006, LRRP was reformed and actively participating in the operations against the LTTE.[5] The LRRP units headed by Special forces regiment and Commando brigade begin launched several attacks against LTTE leaders. Renegade LTTE cadres of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal served as point-men for LRRP field teams and informants that successfully infiltrated the LTTE ranks.[6] Head of the LTTE military intelligence, Col. Charles, was killed in one such attack. Cheliyan, the deputy leader of the Sea Tigers, was also believed to be killed in an LRRP attack, but the claim had been false.[7][8]

The LTTE accused the LRRP of targeting civilians in areas under their control but military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara denied any involvement in these incidents, stating that the LRRP only targets armed LTTE cadres.[9] In June 2008, The LTTE accused LRRP units of killing 26 civilians in three attacks alleged attacks and have also blamed LRRP for killing of Tamil National Alliance member K. Sivanesan.[10] It was also accused of assassinating Father M. X. Karunaratnam, the chairman of the Pro-LTTE North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR).[11][12]