Security beefed up in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 July 2005, 10:05 GMT]
Sri Lanka President's Official residence and adjoining streets have been declared as high security zone, The Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP) Poojitha Jayasundera who is in-charge of the Colombo's security said that the declaration of the high-security zone areas around the President's official residence has been already gazetted last Friday.

Several key Government buildings including the Presidential Secretariat, Central Bank, the Government controlled Associated News Papers of Ceylon Ltd (Lake House), Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Head Quarters and Harbour have also been declared as falling witin the HSZ.

The police and the armed forces have been authorised to check vehicles, individuals and to create barricades whenever they are necessary within the newly announced security zone.

The setting up of high security zone around the President's official residence follows the recent agitations and marches against the President and the UPFA government by the opposition parties and other organisations.

Several leading hotels such as Colombo Hilton, Galadari, Taj Samudra, Galle Face hotel and Trance Asia are also covered under the high security zone and special arrangements have been made to ensure the safety and the convienience of the guests who use those hotels, police sources said.

This is the first time Heart of Colombo has been placed on high alert since the Ceasefire Agreement was signed between the LTTE and the Government in 2002 February.