Security beefed up in city

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Around 5,000 policemen including the Special Task Force will be deployed in Colombo to provide security for today’s May Day rally. Army personnel will also assist the police. All together, around 8,000 policemen will be deployed, IGP Mahinda Balasuriya said.

He said that DIGs, SSPs and OICs of police stations in the country have been instructed to provide protection to people travelling from far off places to Colombo and back. A special traffic scheme has also been organised for today’s rallies. The IGP has made a special appeal to people not to litter the city.

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has provided bins for the purpose. Senior DIG Administration, N.K Illangakoon said security and traffic arrangements for May Day rallies in the out-stations have been finalised, large contigents of people are due to participate in today’s rallies due to prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the country.

Security in the Western Province will come under the purview of Senior DIG Pathirane. Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne will be in charge of Security arrangements in the Central Province while Senior DIG S.K. Shanker and Pujitha Jayasundera will be in charge of security arrangements in Badulla and Bandarewela.