Colombo under tight security on Independence Day

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 February 2007, 03:56 GMT]
Security has been stepped up further in Colombo city Sunday for the Independence day celebrations. Several hundreds of troops of three armed forces and police personnel have been deployed in Galle Face Green where the 59th Independence Day celebration is to be held Sunday morning, sources said.

Random cordon and search operations were held in several parts of the Colombo city as a precautionary measure and anti-craft guns are seen mounted on several storied buildings in the vicinity of the Galle Face Green.

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse is to address the people of Sri Lanka from this venue, media sources said.

Sri Lanka Navy has deployed several Dvora gunboats in Colombo Harbour to strengthen the security of the harbour and navy installations, sources said.