P’ment told no need for additional security for MR for polls

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday shot down a request from the UPFA joint opposition to increase the security of former President, Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapakse during the fourth coming Local Government elections. Comparing the security detail provided for former presidents, the Prime Minister wanted the joint opposition to make a request from the Ministry of Law and Order, to enable a threat assessment based on intelligence reports.

“Former presidents are provided security as per the threat assessment conducted based on intelligence reports. Security for both former Presidents, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, was provided based on it. At the moment, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is allocated a Police force of 154 including an Assistant Superintendent of Police, a Chief Inspector, nine Inspectors, 14 Sub-Inspectors, one female inspector, 31 male sergeants, two female sergeants, four driver sergeants, 73 constables, 14 driver constables, and four female constables along with necessary motor vehicles,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of the VVIPs, the Prime Minister said: “Former President Kumaratunga is provided a security detail of 61. The increased security provided for Mahinda Rajapakse is based on the threat level. We are willing to consider a request to increase the security of Mahinda Rajapaksa if a request is made to the Ministry of Law and Order. The intelligence reports are revised from time to time. I don’t think there is a possibility to have incident in Sri Lanka similar to what happened in India to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. We will ensure that he will not be harmed, and his presence is an advantage for us.” (AH)