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PSD disbanded, STF takes over President’s security
The Presidential Security Division (PSD) has been disbanded after its involvement in criminal activities, Public Order Minister John Amaratunga disclosed yesterday. He said the Special Task Force (STF), the commando arm of the Police, would now be responsible for the security of President Maithripala Sirisena. The first assignment was providing close protection at a Kandy event which Mr. Sirisena attended yesterday.
The role of the 5,000-strong PSD became the subject of a string of investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The first was after an Army commando entered a venue in Angunukolapelassa with a loaded pistol. If it slipped the attention of PSD personnel, Police personnel on duty outside became suspicious and made the detection. President Sirisena addressed this meeting.
Two weeks later, a second security lapse occurred at Pepiliyana near Nugegoda. President Sirisena who declared open a Vesak pandal had got into the official vehicle of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe instead of his own. PSD personnel at the scene, it came to light, did not guide him to his own official vehicle.
Police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekera, ASP, said that PSD personnel would now be posted to duties in other Police divisions.
A source at Police Headquarters also said Senior Deputy Inspector General S.M. Wickremesinghe who headed the PSD was also being given a new posting.