The Sri Lankan government is to strengthen its Special Task Force officers in order to combat "extremist" threats and "foreign terrorists", the Minister of Law and Order, Sagala Ratnayake said. 

"The officers should be provided with modern technological training to face new forms of terrorist threats that country could face in future, even though the Government is certain there is no LTTE threat," the minister was quoted by Ceylon Today as saying. 

"When we say to combat riots, we are not indicating the day to day protests or unruly behaviour by university students or employees who take to streets. We are talking about any possible rise of extremist groups or international terrorist groups using Sri Lanka as a hub. The STF was originally formed by the late Ravi Jayewardene with this aim. Even though time has changed and we don't see any threat from the LTTE, we must make sure Sri Lanka is not being used by international terrorist groups as a training ground or recruitment point," he added. 

The Special Task Force was established in 1983 as an elite police unit, aimed at combatting the LTTE's guerilla operations. The Special Task Force has been accused of committing numerous atrocities since its formation including murder and enforced disappearances. 

Despite the end of the armed conflict, the government continues to deploy STF officers in the North-East for routine security operations.