High-level committee to oversee security arrangements of presidential candidates

In the wake of the attempted assassination of former US President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a campaign event, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed appointing a committee to oversee the personal security arrangements of candidates contesting the upcoming presidential election.

The committee will be chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and will also include the Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chief of National Intelligence and the Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) of Police in charge of Elections. 

President Wickremesinghe, in a Cabinet Paper, has noted that there is a pressing need to ensure the personal security of the candidates for the forthcoming presidential election in light of the recent attack on Mr Trump, who suffered injuries to his right ear when an assassin opened fire during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania. 

The committee that Mr Wickremesinghe has proposed will oversee the security arrangements of presidential candidates as well as former Presidents based on threat assessments, once nominations are accepted. 

The President has further proposed to direct the IGP to nominate a police officer, not below the rank of DIG to coordinate all matters related to the personal security of presidential candidates and the former Presidents during the presidential election. 

The aforementioned committee and the designated police officer should work closely with the Election Commission to ensure seamless coordination of security arrangements, the President adds in his Cabinet Paper.