Colombo and suburbs will be manned by a 20,000-strong force of police and armed force
By Leon Berenger
Since yesterday, thousands of heavily armed policemen have been arriving in the city from the outstations in order to beef up security in Colombo and suburbs, while delegates for the 15th SAARC Summit have been arriving in the country since Friday night.
The extra manpower completes a 20,000-strong team of police and security forces personnel put in place to ensure the highest level of security in the city for the SAARC Summit, which begins on July 29 (Tuesday) and ends on August 4. A total of 12,000 policemen and 8,000 armed forces personnel will be deployed in and around Colombo for the big event.
Public schools and other government buildings have been requisitioned as temporary accommodation for the extra police personnel, a senior police officer said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of foreign security personnel, men and women, will be providing immediate security for their respective heads of government and related delegations. These foreign security personnel will be working closely with the local authorities.
Senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka, who is in charge of the entire security operation in the city, told The Sunday Times that the foreign security personnel are restricted to their respective delegations, and will not be permitted to operate elsewhere, unless they are working with local security.
According to latest reports, India is bringing out the largest contingent of overseas security, followed by Afghanistan, which is making its first SAARC appearance.
Security surrounding Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and his team is especially strong. With Kabul being a close ally of Washington in the fight against international terrorist groups, such as al quaeda, the country remains a prime terror target.
Kathy Fox- spokesperson for the United States Embassy in Colombo, told The Sunday Times that President Karzai and his delegation would be provided security by the Afghanistan Presidential Protective Services (APPS), but she stopped short of giving further details.
Ms. Fox, who is also Assistant Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy, refused to comment when asked if the APPS comprised coalition forces personnel currently fighting the Taliban and other insurgent groups in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, security at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at Katunayake has been on top alert since the beginning of the week, with security personnel monitoring all arrivals in the country.
The police are working closely with the airport’s internal security staff and Interpol (International Criminal Police Organisation).
A BIA spokesman advised persons travelling overseas over the next week, during the SAARC summit, to arrive at the airport extra early, in anticipation of delays at check-points and other inconveniences. |
E-mail