CBK derides MR for bellyaching on reducing his security

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has asked how, her successor, Mahinda Rajapaksa, can argue for more security and privileges than her, when there is no war and “the security situation is stable.”

Her query came in a statement on the withdrawal of 42 Police officers attached to Rajapaksa’s personal security. The issue was raised by Joint Opposition members in Parliament on Friday. They argued that it was Rajapaksa who militarily defeated the LTTE, and to say there was no threat, was laughable. Law & Order Minister Sag a l a Ratnayake responded, that 187 policemen were still assigned to Rajapaksa, while only 42 have been withdrawn, consequent to a threat assessment.

Kumaratunga complained that, 15 months after her retirement (in September 2007), “every single one” of her “Security personnel, all vehicles and weaponry” were withdrawn.

She blamed “President Rajapaksa and his brother Gothabaya Rajapaksa who was responsible for the entire securi- ty apparatus of the Sri Lankan State, instructed the relevant authorities...”

However, Kumaratunga asserted that the Sirisena/ Wickremesinghe Government” did inform me that I could ask for more security. My security has now been increased by only eight more personnel.”

Kumaratunga said she had “watched with amusement, the ag i t ation of the Jo i n t Opposition MPs regarding the reduction of security accorded to Mahinda Rajapaksa.” "It is pertinent to remind Rajapaksa," she said, “of the manner in which he treated (her), another former President, and the security he accorded her.”

Kumaratunga added that, she retired in November 2005, while the civil war between the State of Sri Lanka and the LTTE was ongoing. She pointed out that, “the LTTE issued several formal statements that, they would attempt to assassinat e Chandrika after her retirement, giving the main reason for this as the takeover of Jaffna from the LTTE by the Kumaratunga Government”, and clearing the peninsula of the LTTE.