Beleaguered Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Nalaka de Silva, who is currently facing accusations of being involved in a plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and several Joint Opposition VIPs, has requested permission from Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara to set up a paramilitary unit with assistance from the Police Special Task Force (STF), it has been revealed. The Sunday Morning learns that DIG de Silva forwarded an official request to the IGP a few months back, seeking permission to give STF combat training to a group of 10 personnel from the Terrorism Investigations Division (TID) and to arm them with combat weapons like Mini Uzis and MP5s. According to the request presented by de Silva, the TID personnel were to be trained in Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and were to set up a quick reaction team within his division with STF assistance. Informed sources told The Sunday Morning that IGP Jayasundara had granted approval to the request and had directed the Police STF to make the necessary arrangements. However, sources added that Commandant of the STF DIG M. R. Latheef had refused to engage TID personnel in such training and to issue combat weapons to them. De Silva had then had to shelve his plan. Senior police personnel have questioned the reason for the TID to need a paramilitary group assigned to it when it is an investigative arm of the Police.