Armed forces protection won’t be available for any politician
In line with the NPP government’s policy in respect of provision of security to those who faced threats, only the President and Prime Minister will be given STF security, authoritative sources say.Over the years successive governments assigned the STF for the protection of various political leaders.
Sources said that having considered threat assessments, a decision had been made to cease deployment of armed forces for the protection of politicians, regardless of their status.
The armed forces defeated the LTTE in 2009 and since then there have not been attempts to target any politician or retired and serving armed forces officers.
During the war, armed forces developed their own VIP security units in support of the Presidential Security Division (PSD) and the Ministerial Security Division (MSD). Some of those high on the LTTE hit list such as late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and TULF Leader V. Anandasangaree received protection from Army Commandos.