• Minister says Police Dept. alone spends Rs.1,100Mn annually for security to former Presidents

By Ajith Siriwardana

The government yesterday refuted claims of curtailing the security detail of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga while stating that she had been provided with a security detail of 57 officials.

 Minister Vijitha Herath told the media briefing to announce Cabinet decisions that Ms. Kumaratunga’s security had not been reduced to 30 as claimed by her.

He said certain former Presidents had been provided with a security detail of some 100 to 180 security personnel.

The Minister said a committee had been appointed to decide on providing security to former Presidents and that a Cabinet Paper would be submitted based on the report to formulate a mechanism to provide security on a proportionate basis.

He said steps would be taken to provide special security according to the threat assessment of the former Presidents.

He said former Presidents had been provided not only with security personnel but also, buses, defenders, three-wheelers, motorcycles, ambulances as well adding that the Police Department alone spends Rs. 1,100 million annually for the provision of security to the former Presidents.

In a letter to Ravi Seneviratne, the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, Kumaratunga expressed concern that the number of security officers assigned to her had been slashed from 50 to just 30.