Independence Day celebrations, Deyata Kirula :

Nearly 6,000 police personnel deployed

Amila Prabath Wanasinghe and Sakuntala Jayasinghe

A Police contingent of nearly 6,000 personnel will be deployed in Anuradhapura during the 64th Independence Day celebrations and the Deyata Kirula exhibition extending from February 4 to 10, to maintain law and order, said Anuradhapura SP Mahesh Senaratne.

He said all vehicles proceeding towards the exhibition grounds will also be subjected to security checks during this period. A special traffic plan will be in operation along the three access roads to the exhibition grounds - Anuradhapura - Vilachchiya road, Nochchiyagama - Vilachchiya road and Tantirimale- Oyamaduwa roads.

Special vehicle parks which can accommodate 3,000 to 5,000 vehicles have been set up along these access roads.

A special traffic plan will also be in operation in Anuradhapura Town for the February 4 Independence Day celebrations. One way traffic will be allowed through Dahaiyagama junction along Maithripala Senanayake Mawatha for vehicles coming through Puttalam- Nochchiyagama and Kurunegala - Anuradhapura roads.

Vehicles coming through Kandy- Anuradhapura road will be directed through Sathosa junction and Old Bus Stand road along Dharmapala Mawatha.

SP Senaratne said a special Police team in mufti will be deployed and a network of CCTV cameras have been set up in Anuradhapura to ensure the safety of the public visiting Anuradhapura specially from pickpockets and criminals.