Gota given adequate protection: Nalin Bandara

• Team of 42 STF members, 28 Army members assigned to guard former Defence Secretary 
• Govt. spends Rs. 3.5m a day on providing security 
• No sniper rifles given to TID

Deputy Minister of Public Administration and Management, and Law and Order Nalin Bandara yesterday said that former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has been provided with sufficient security despite the Joint Opposition’s claims. 

However, the Minister said the Government is ready to reconsider the position if a formal request is made by the former Defence Secretary. 

“The Government has provided 42 STF members, and 28 Army members, including five Army officers and five Special Force members, to protect the former Defence Secretary. Vehicles have also been provided for their transport purposes,” Bandara said, addressing a media briefing at the UNP headquarters Sirikotha.

The former Defence Secretary, however, has not made any request with regards to his protection to date, he said, adding that the Government spends nearly Rs. 3.5 million for a day to provide Gotabhaya security.

In comparison, the former Army Commander and current Government Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has been assigned a team of only six STF members and 15 MSD personnel, the Minister said. 

“I also checked the level of security provided to former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka. Only six STF members and 15 MSD personnel have been assigned. I couldn’t believe that either. So I think the numbers say it all, and some might say the Government has provided more protection to the former Defence Secretary than needed,” he added.

He highlighted that the Government has not issued any sniper rifles to the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) despite claims that a sniper rifle has gone missing. Only the Special Task Force, Kaluthara Police Training College, and Police Headquarters have been issued sniper rifles, he said.

He also said that the Minister of Public Administration and Management, and Law and Order Ranjith Madduma Bandara has appointed a three-member committee to investigate the allegation made against Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara. 

Saying that the committee started its proceedings yesterday and that the IGP appeared before the committee, Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara stated: “We are hoping the committee will complete the investigation soon, but we are not interfering in the investigation to protect the impartiality of it.”