Tri-forces security for ex-presidents to be withdrawn from next week

The security provided by tri-forces personnel to former presidents will be removed from next week, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today (17). 

Making a special statement in Parliament, Minister Wijepala disclosed that more than Rs. 1.4 billion in taxpayer funds had been spent to provide security for former presidents over the past 11 1/2 months alone. 

He informed the House that starting from next week, tri-forces protection given to former presidents will be removed and that henceforth, security for them will be reviewed every six months and protection will be allocated accordingly.

Security for ex-presidents will be solely the responsibility of the police after the withdrawal of the tri-forces. 

The minister said the government will be able to save at least Rs. 1.2 billion a year by implementing this arrangement. 

He revealed that the tri-forces, police and the presidential secretariat are all spending state funds to provide security for the retired presidents.

The minister said he was making the special statement in response to claims made over the past few days that the government had drastically reduced the security provided to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Refuting the allegations, the minister said what the government had done was act on the recommendations given in the report submitted by the committee led by retired Supreme Court Justice K.T. Chitrasiri that was appointed to review the allowances, perks and privileges provided to Members of Parliament, Ministers and former Presidents.

The Chitrasiri Committee submitted many recommendations and one of the main recommendations related to the security provided to former presidents, the minister said. "The committee had recommended that necessary security be provided to former presidents after conducting a proper threat assessment," he stressed, adding that the government will not reduce or increase anyone's security without such a proper assessment. "We are simply carrying out the recommendations given by experts in this matter and removing excess personnel allocated to them," he emphasised. 

According to figures presented by the Public Security Minister to Parliament, currently, 60 police officers and 228 tri-forces personnel are assigned to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Former President Maithripala Sirisena has four tri-forces personnel and 60 police officers assigned to him. Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa meanwhile, has 188 tri-forces personnel and 22 police officers for his protection. Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe meanwhile, has 57 tri-forces personnel and 60 police officers for his protection. Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga meanwhile, has 60 police officers for her protection while former First Lady Hema Premadasa has 10 police officers assigned to her.

The minister further revealed the funds that had been spent by the tri-forces, police and the presidential secretariat for providing security to former presidents this year up until December 15. Following is the breakdown given by the minister on funds spent on security for each ex-president. 

Mahinda Rajapaksa
Tri-forces: Rs. 328 million
Police: Rs. 327 million
Presidential Secretariat: Rs. 55 million
Total: Rs. 710 million

Maithripala Sirisena
Tri-forces: Rs. 6 million
Police: Rs. 185 million
Presidential Secretariat: Rs. 16 million
Total: Rs. 207 million

Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Tri-forces: Rs. 258 million
Police: Rs. 39 million
Presidential Secretariat: Rs. 10 million
Total: Rs. 307 million

Ranil Wickremesinghe (For three months)
Tri-forces: Rs. 19 million
Police: Rs. 60 million
Presidential Secretariat: Rs. 3 million
Total: 82 million 

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
Tri-forces: No expenses
Police: Rs. 99 million
Presidential Secretariat: Rs.12 million  
Total: Rs. 111 million

Hema Premadasa (Wife of late President Ranasinghe Premadasa)
Tri-forces: No expenses
Police: Rs. 30 million
Presidential Secretariat: Rs. 3 million
Total: Rs. 33 million