Former Presidents’ security revamped after full assessment – Police HQ

A senior official at the Police Headquarters said that the decisions regarding revamping the security allocations for former presidents has been done following comprehensive security assessments.

The annual cost of providing security for former presidents is approximately Rs. 1.1 billion, with Rs. 326 million allocated for the protection of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa alone, the official revealed. The official from the Police Headquarters pointed out that the decision aligns with the current Government’s policy of reviewing and streamlining the privileges granted to retired presidents. A committee appointed to oversee the allocation of security personnel analysed the associated costs and security requirements for former presidents.

Following the reduction of security personnel for former presidents, including Mahinda Rajapaksa, several media outlets raised concerns. In response, the Police Media Division issued a statement on December13, providing clarification on the matter.

The statement highlighted that the committee regularly reviews security arrangements and adjusts the number of personnel as necessary. It was also noted that, in addition to the 60 security officers assigned to each former president, Armed Forces personnel are deployed when required, ensuring that security remains uncompromised.

The review process is part of a broader strategy to optimise resources and redirect personnel to essential policing duties. The Sri Lanka Police currently faces a shortage of approximately 24,000 officers for regular duties. Previously, over 2,000 officers assigned to the Presidential Security Division and the Prime Minister’s Security Division were reallocated to general police duties. Similarly, reducing the number of officers assigned to ministers and MPs has enabled the deployment of more officers to regional Police stations for crime prevention and other critical responsibilities.

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