SAARC security plan:
Minimum hassle, maximum security
Rasika SOMARATHNA
COLOMBO: The Government said yesterday that its security plan for the
forthcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC )
Summit had been organised in such a manner as to ensure minimum
inconvenience to the public amidst maximum security.
Senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka addressing the media yesterday said that
Authorities had conducted a pre-security feasibility study from March 1
and was now fully prepared to launch the full security measures which
would be implemented from July 25 to August 4.
According to Mediwaka, the authorities intend to declare four High
Security Zones (HSZs) in the areas adjoining Fort, Katunayake, BMICH and
Parliament.
From July 25 to 30, vehicles will be allowed access to these HSZ’s
subjected to a thorough security check but from July 31 to August 3,
only vehicles which have valid permits to access the Zones would be
allowed.
- Authorities intend to
declare four High Security Zones (HSZs) in the areas
adjoining Fort, Katunayake, BMICH and Parliament.
- Buses and trains plying on
the Galle Road are to be stopped at Ceramic Junction in
Bambalapitiya from July 31 to August 3.
- Authorities have organised
a shuttle service to take passengers to their intended
locations.
- Trains on other routes are
to be stopped at Maradana with the shuttle service operating
from there.
- Some roads in Colombo will
be closed for traffic from July 31 to August 3.
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According to Mediwaka these vehicle passes could be obtained from
Police stations by forwarding an application but the numbers would be
limited according to priority basis.
Two centres have been opened at the Fort and Kollupitiya Police
stations exclusively for this.
Employees whose offices are in the above-mentioned Zones could
proceed to their organisations by presenting their company Identity
Cards, Mediwaka said adding that they already possessed details
regarding all personnel working within these HSZs.
Buses and trains plying on the Galle Road are to be stopped at
Ceramic Junction in Bambalapitiya from July 31 to August 3. Authorities
have organised a shuttle service to take passengers to their intended
locations from there.
Trains on other routes are to be stopped at Maradana with the shuttle
service operating from there.
Some roads in Colombo including Sarana Road, Bauddhaloka Mawatha and
Malalasekera Mawatha will be closed for traffic from July 31 to August 3
but according to Mediwaka alternative routes have been organised with
Police personnel and road signs placed at strategic locations to show
the way.
roads from the Ceramic junction to Kollupitiya upto the old
Parliament, Sri Lanka Ports Authority area, Police HQ, Janadhipathi
Mawatha, Galle Face, Slave Island Railway station covering the Army
headquarters and the Ministry of Defence will be closed for general
traffic.
There would also be restrictions along the Katunayake-Colombo main
road from July 30 to August 4 and heavy vehicles would be barred from
access during this period. When VIPs use the road to travel to the
Airport and back the whole road will be closed for 26 minutes during the
time of travel.
However, according to Mediwaka all these measures are to be adopted
with minimum harassment to the public and they have organised
alternative routes at times with a large security contingent on duty to
guide the travellers.
According to sources, the authorities are also contemplating to
declare August 01st as a public holiday and Schools are expected to
close for their August holidays from July 26 onwards as part of security
measures. Mediwaka urged vehicle owners to display their phone numbers
when parked outside so that officials would be able to contact them in
an emergency.
Replying to a query from a journalist regarding the role of foreign
security personnel DIG Mediwaka said that their role would be confined
to providing personal security for the relevant VIPs concerned and that
they would not be allowed to dictate terms to Lankan Authorities
regarding security arrangements as a whole.
He further said that the whole exercise was arranged due to the
security threat posed by the LTTE and even though they were confident of
the measures they did not rule out the possibility of sabotage which had
resulted in these tough security arrangements.
The Tigers who are fighting a losing battle in the North might use
the opportunity to tarnish the image of the country by trying to
sabotage an international gathering and divert attention from their
battle field losses, Mediwaka added.
DIG Mediwaka also urged public to be vigilant during the period and
report any suspicious activity to the authorities. |