Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has questioned the recent decision of the Public Security Ministry to decrease the number of personnel provided for her personal security as a former Head of State.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Ministry, former President Kumaratunga said it has come to her attention that her security detail of 50 has been reduced to 30 as per the new decision.
She further said that a letter by the Police Officer in charge of her area of residence has cited the highest level of threat to her among the former heads of state and that her security detail requires a minimum of 50 personnel.
Among the former Presidents, Mahinda Rajapaksa has been provided with a security detail of 243 consisting of Police and Army personnel, Maithripala Sirisena has been granted 109 Police officers, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa a security detail of 200 consisting of Police and Army personnel, she pointed out.
Against such arrangements, she questioned why a decision had been taken to only reduce her security detail, despite severe threats to her, further raising doubts about whether there exists a plan to assassinate her, similar to her husband in 1988. (Islandnews)
