Former President MP Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Media Unit has announced that 50 soldiers have been removed from his security detail. However, according to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), sufficient Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel have been assigned to the former president’s security as replacements.

The Media Unit of the former president released a statement saying security analysts opine that there is a serious threat to the former president’s safety. The statement adds that as such, there is general acceptance that he should be provided special VIP security.

The statement  further reads that the withdrawal of the soldiers puts the former president’s life at risk.

Responding to inquiries, Army Media Spokesperson Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera has noted that the Army security detail assigned to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has not been withdrawn completely.

According to spokesperson Brigadier Jayaweera, only a group of soldiers had been removed, and replaced with STF personnel.

Spokesperson Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera has also noted that the decision to remove the soldiers was taken on the principle that the Army should not be providing VIP security. He added that soldiers assigned to the security details of the current president and prime minister have also been withdrawn.

Commenting on the incident, UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardena has said that the current government is now accountable even if there is a ‘scrape’ on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s body”

Meanwhile, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resource Management, Vijith Wijayamuni Soysa sai that “Military teams cannot be given for people to go around the country, attempting to topple the government”,

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