Advance Indian security contingent arrives - Minister

An advance Indian security contingent has already arrived in the country to provide security to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his delegation for the upcoming SAARC Summit, a Government Minister said yesterday.

Defence Spokesperson and senior Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that a security contingent slightly larger than the usual number provided for any international leader would arrive in the country to offer security to the Indian delegation, out of which an advance contingent had already arrived in the island recently.

Minister Rambukwella refused to divulge the figures of the security contingent but said that expecting an advance security team was ‘normal’ as President Mahinda Rajapakse himself had on some occasions dispatched an advance security party prior to his visits overseas.

“Expecting international security for an international occasion is normal. Some leaders prefer to come with their own security. In regard to this matter, the Indian Prime Minister is bringing with him a slightly larger security party. President Rajapaksa too has taken his own security on some of his trips overseas,” Minister Rambukwella said.

Meanwhile according to sources, an Indian Navy ship has already entered Sri Lankan shores in order monitor the coastal area and an India helicopter along with a bullet-proof car are expected to arrive this week.

Despite the Indian security delegation arriving in the country, a large local security force has been deployed to offer security for the international leaders expected to arrive in the country at the end of this month.

Additional checkpoints will be set up in many areas in an around Colombo from July 26 to August 3 and the routes leading to five star hotels, accommodating the international leaders and their delegations will be closed, the Government said.