Govt.’s duty to strengthen MR’S security

It was the responsibility of the Govt. to strengthen the security detail provided to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the wake of an alleged assassination plot claimed by an Indian national, who was arrested by the CID, the Joint Opposition (JO) said yesterday.

An Indian national, who had claimed that there was a plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena, former president Rajapaksa and his family members, was arrested at the Anti-corruption Movement Operational Director Namal Kumara’s residence.

Speaking at the weekly JO news briefing, Professor G.L. Peiris said the Government had not yet put in place a programme to provide enough security personnel or equipment to Mr Rajapaksa’s security detail.

“In the coming months, Mr Rajapaksa has planned to visit many areas across the country. Amidst the latest developments, this has become a challenge. The Government should provide adequate security to Mr Rajapaksa without delay,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka’s statement that former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa did not deserve further protection, was malicious.

“Gotabaya was not just a Defence Secretary, he was the one who oversaw the war against the LTTE in its final phase,” he said.

Referring to IGP Pujith Jayasundera’s controversial conduct, and the alleged involvement in the plot, Prof. Peiris said the UNP was deterring a fair and impartial investigation into the IGP’S conduct.