5,000 security personnel deployed for SAARC

A massive security cordon of around 5,000 security personnel, including the three armed forces and Police will be deployed for the forthcoming SAARC Summit, scheduled commence on July 27 at the BMICH in Colombo, Police Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunesekera said.

The Summit, which will conclude on August 3, will also see a massive Indian security entourage including highly skilled Black Cats, three warships and two frontline guided-missile destroyers and several helicopters to protect Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Government of Sri Lanka has, meanwhile, taken a decision to give the top most security priority to Singh and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, who will be attending the 15th SAARC Summit.
Despite the Summit stretching over eight long days, the Indian Prime Minister is scheduled to be present in Sri Lanka only during the last two days of the Summit.

Meanwhile, in light of the Indian Government’s plan to bring vehicles and weapons to ensure the safety of their Prime Minister, the Sri Lankan military has expressed no ill feeling towards these plans.
Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that all security arrangements would be conducted according to the will of the Sri Lankan military and other countries would also be asked to comply with the these plans.

"If the country concerned wishes to bring their own means of security, then they must ask permission from the relevant authorities in Sri Lanka. We harbour no ill feelings towards the Indian authorities and the transportation of their security vehicles. It’s the right of any dignitary, according to the threats they are facing, to have his own security personnel present when he is visiting a foreign country. So, we don’t have any issue with this move," Nanayakkara said.