Lack of vehicles jeopardizing MR’s security – Media Coordinator
Posted on March 25th, 2015
Courtesy Adaderana
The lack of vehicles to transport the 213 security personnel assigned to Mahinda Rajapaksa has jeopardized his security, according to the former president’s Media Coordinator Mr Rohan Welivita.
Referring to the security provided to Mr Rajapaksa, cabinet spokesman Minister Rajitha Senaratne said at a press conference yesterday (24) that the former president has been provided with two high security vehicles, one ‘dummy’ vehicle, one Defender jeep, one Toyota Land Cruiser and one double cab.
He further said that 108 soldiers and 105 policemen have been assigned for the protection of the former president and that these security personnel have been provided with three double cabs, one Land Cruiser, two vans, one bus and eight motorcycles for their use.
According to minister Senaratne, a total of 21 vehicles have been provided for the use of the former president.
However, Mr Welivita rejected this statement and declared that the former president has been provided with only six vehicles at present.
All the vehicles that were assigned to the police personnel in the former president’s security detail were withdrawn on 03 March 2015 by letter bearing reference number SP/04/0/8 issued by the Secretary to the President Mr P.B. Abeykoon,” he said in a letter.
He conceded that there are in fact 108 soldiers and 105 policemen who have been assigned to protect former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, as Minister Rajitha Senaratne said, but claimed they have no vehicles.
He stated that former Secretary to the President Mr Lalith Weeratunga wrote to the present Secretary to the President Mr P.B. Abeykoon on 16 March highlighting that problems have arisen as there are no vehicles to transport the army and police personnel in the former president’s security detail.
There has been no response to this letter as yet,” Mr Welivita said.
He said there is an ever present threat to the life of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his security should be a matter of the highest priority.”
It need not be stressed that the lack of vehicles to transport his security personnel has jeopardized the former president’s security,” he said.
March 25th, 2015 at 2:20 pm
Why do you need security when the war is finished. Couple of weeks ago I saw a ex PM walking the streets. I see many sitting cabinet ministers in my area strolling without any security in my area.
Having this kind of security is just an extravagant empty status symbol at the expense of the tax payer. Why are the politicians running scared of the people?
March 25th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
Security is very important. MR and other ex-govt VIPs were in the war. They are the ones who took the flak when the times were dangerous for all in Lanka, thanks to playing with the country by the same D&D leaders of the new illegal govt. I find some of the positions that the new illegal govt is taking absurd and dangerous.
March 25th, 2015 at 5:48 pm
It would be rather stupid of the new regime to harm MR,now that he is retired. People will never forgive the regime if any harm comes to MR.
I am very much against the usual security circus that goes along with the politicians. He could retire in London and have a good time. In retirement one could live any where but my concern is people stealing from a country and live abroad and that goes to all politicians from any party.
March 25th, 2015 at 5:58 pm
MR, GR, NR and CR are DEFINITE targets of UNP goons. DEFINITE!
The best defence is offence. But WHO? RW is a liability for the country and the party so NO. MOST UNPers are useless junk who should live to lose. But Endia is VERY UNHAPPY with My3 entertaining a QATAR prince (Qatar is the biggest financier of IS and AQ), My3 visiting China and My3 BEGGING China not to stop port city project. So the UNP, RAW, others will or can target My3 too.
March 25th, 2015 at 6:00 pm
IF a conspiracy brought My3, a conspiracy should send him.
(I don’t think the foreigners did much to bring My3. It was mostly locals who wanted MR out. But if the MR camp thinks My3 came by a conspiracy, they should hatch another conspiracy to send him. This is what happened in ALL regime changed countries.)
March 25th, 2015 at 6:10 pm
Regime change is now easy ! Bring people to street ! Because of USA type freedom anyone can lead this. Nalin De Silva can lead the way !
March 26th, 2015 at 8:19 am
Nimal,
Why should anyone from the GoSL, past and present, retire in London (of all places !) when the most suitable person to retire in London, Sir Ranil, has not done so ???
March 26th, 2015 at 8:25 am
retire in London, Sir Ranil, has not done so ??? He is younger than CBK,MR ect… 2020 He will see him in London train.
does not RW have children living in London if any?
Fran Diaz you really want him to retire soon MS need him until 2020.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:33 am
Only 6 vehicles have been allocated for former President MR’s security ! Shame, shame and double shame on this new illegal govt which is not a govt at all but bend over backwards, servile outfit to suit Sir Ranil’s bosses !
March 26th, 2015 at 8:55 am
Fran
Come and see for your self. Russians and Chinese can’t be wrong so are the thieving African leaders. Depends what one wants in life. Only scroungers on benefits that leave for places like Australia, hoping they get a better deal there.
There foreigners keep buying properties like hell leading to a massive house prices.I hope SL too have the same attraction?
March 26th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Nimal,
After colonisation from Europe, I bet Africans like doing business with Russia & China. I am not an admirer of colonisation. Few in the colonised nations benefit from colonisation. Co-operation and Colonisation – which is better ?
Also,
* To my knowledge, the best scroungers go to Canada !
* May housing prices stay reasonable in Lanka as Lanka is not a vast country like Oz.
People before Money is a good motto to follow.
March 26th, 2015 at 4:18 pm
Nimal,
I am not for Colonisation or Communism. I am for Socialism/Capitalism mix, with Socialism leading. There has to be checks and balances to ensure this. I have written before that Europe had two World Wars and has ended up with mostly Socialism. It makes sense to keep the system Lanka already has.
March 26th, 2015 at 6:25 pm
Independent,
That type of regime change will NOT work. SURGICAL moves work. Now is the PERFECT TIME.
RAW is VERY VERY ANGRY with My3 for visiting China and signing SECRET agreements. RAW wants to kill My3 and appoint CBK as president.
March 26th, 2015 at 10:14 pm
Every day passed by, the goodies of the willy budget is being evaporated and the frustration of the mass is building up beyond their tolerant level. And the people power will soon pack the kanda haliya regime of the small minded and know nothing Sirisena and the conspirators that conspired to put him on pedestal. Sirisena is a fortunate man no doubt, but he is the most unfortunate president of Sri Lanka ever.
March 27th, 2015 at 6:24 am
Fran
I agree with you socialism/capitalism mix. One check on the other in short. See this happening in China and the west is wetting in their pants. But I wouldn’t still will not want either Chinese or Japanese to rule the world and not even Koreans as they will have a dark side to human rights violations. Still the Western countries holding the moral high ground. This why so many Chinese young are here in the West learning their ways especially the English language. So they can’t be wrong.
March 28th, 2015 at 11:47 am
Nimal,
At present, no one seems to hold the moral high ground as such. People migrate to various countries where they see greater safety and opportunities for growth. English is the language of Commerce, Sc&Tech & the computer (general information) and is the lead world language.