Tight security for five star hotels

by Jayamapthy JAYASINGHE

[email protected]

Security measures at five star hotels in the high security zone in Colombo have been tightened following the deadly terrorist attack on the Trident/Oberoi, the Taj Hotel and at other institutions in Mumbai last week that killed 160 persons, a spokesman for the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board told the Sunday Observer.

The spokesman said President Mahinda Rajapaksa who chaired a conference to review the security situation at five star hotels has appointed a special committee on the recommendation of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board last week. The committee consists of a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and several other high-ranking military officers to look into the security aspect at these hotels. They will liaise with the Managers of five star hotels and its Chief Security officers to strengthen security at hotels. Although the security umbrella cover is initially confined to the high security zone, it will be extended to other hotels in the provinces, the spokesman said.

Following the Marriott Hotel bombing in Islamabad on September 20, President Rajapaksa instructed Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda and the Tourism Promotion Board to draw up a contingency plan to thwart such attacks in Sri Lanka. Last week's conference attended by Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda, Deputy Minister Faizer Musthapa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board Bernard Goonetilleke and other officials participated in the conference.

The police will install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in strategic locations in the Colombo city to help detect traffic offences minimising the number of policemen needed for duties. The CCTVs will be later installed in provincial towns as well, Police Media Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunesekera said.