Friday, July 18, 2008

Minimum hassle, maximum security

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.

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.

Courtesy: Daily News

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