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Stepped up security for Sri Lankan contestants

V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has ordered stepped-up security for the two main candidates in the November 17 presidential poll — Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The decision followed the findings of a special committee appointed by Ms. Kumaratunga to "review all aspects of security provided to the two main contenders," the President's office said. "Security for the two candidates was strengthened and they were provided additional security personnel, vehicles and other logistics as directed by the President."

Mr. Rajapakse has also been provided a "contingent of trained and experienced personnel from the Presidential Security Division," an elite group responsible for VVIP protection. Security was also enhanced for other leaders and prime ministerial nominees of the two major political groupings. The ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) said Foreign Affairs Minister Anura Bandaranaike would be named Prime Minister if Mr. Rajapakse was elected Prime Minister.

The security measures are against the backdrop of a violent history of presidential elections. In 1994, the United National Party (UNP) candidate died in a suspected LTTE suicide bomb attack. In 1999, Ms. Kumaratunga survived an LTTE suicide bomber after addressing her final rally of the campaign.

TULF's appeal

President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) V. Anandasangaree has appealed to the international community to prevent a rally the LTTE's front organisations were planning at Brussels next week to demand the revocation of the tough E.U. moves against them. He also said the "only option" for the E.U. was to "proscribe the LTTE."

Mr. Anandasangaree said the LTTE had not heeded the advice given to them by diplomats and visiting dignitaries to stop killing and recruiting children.

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