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Security “lapses” in Colombo

Colombo: Sri Lankan security officers tasked with protecting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan failed to turn up for their job, sending officials on both sides into a tizzy, the media claimed here on Sunday.

After Dr. Singh concluded his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat here on Saturday and returned to his vehicle, it was discovered that the Sri Lankan Personal Security Officer assigned to travel in his car was missing, The Sunday Leader reported.

It said an Indian security officer, who was in a back-up vehicle, then got into the Prime Minister’s car.

Mr. Rajapaksa questioned the security officer after the incident and told him to be more alert in future, it said quoting sources.

The Sunday Times reported another security lapse. Mr. Narayanan had to return to his hotel room from the SAARC conference hall on Saturday in a hotel taxi after his car and security escort vehicles failed to turn up. The serious security lapse displeased both the Indian officials and those in the Indian High Commission here, the report added. — PTI

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