Security arrangement for SAARC
(Lanka-e-News, July 17, 2008, 4.30 PM) Deputy Inspector General of police W.W.M. Nimal Mediwaka asked the public to support the security forces to guarantee security during the time the SAARC summit is held in Colombo as the LTTE might attempt to create havoc to tarnish the image of the country.
Addressing a meeting held to aware media on the security plan for the summit, DIG Mediwaka said that Colombo city was divided into two High Security Zones. Colombo- Katunayaka road, Ceramic junction, Kollupitiya, Slave Island, Elephant House area and the Presidential Secretariat comes under the High Security Zone.
Surveillance is carried out in these areas now. Traffic is allowed until July 30 and vehicles will be thoroughly checked since July 25. Only the permitted vehicles can enter the High Security Zones between July 30 and August 04. Two counters are open in Kolupitiya and Colombo Fort police stations to issue permits to the most essential vehicles to enter into the High Security Zone.
August 01 will be declared a public holiday and it is not yet decided whether it will be valid only to Colombo or to the entire country.
DIG Mediwaka said that although the LTTE is too weak now to cause havoc in High Security Zones the security plan is for guaranteeing the safety and to minimum the disruption of civilian life. He requested from the public to assist the scheme.
The summer vacation is to commence with the SAARC security arrangement and school education will not be disrupted due to SAARC. The security squads of state heads arrive in Sri Lanka but the public places are guarded by Sri Lanka police and Army.
Police asked from the vehicle owners to display the name and the mobile phone number of the driver on the windscreen when vehicles are parked.
In response to a question posed by a journalist, DIG Mediwaka said that he was unaware of a plan of sending three naval ships of India to Sri Lankan waters during the time the SAARC summit is held.