The Euro Police had warned Sri Lanka about increased LTTE activities internationally, and a Paris court alone had imprisoned 21 LTTE operatives in recent times, Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said in Parliament today. External Affairs Minister Prof. Peiris said that the government, therefore, could not relax security attached to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at any cost under such circumstances.
The Minister was responding to a question by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara who asked about the cost sustained by the government for its delegation that participated in the 2010 UN Summit, and for the security personnel who accompanied them.
For the entourage of 30 members, he said, Rs.49 million was spent. However, he said that details about the security personnel could not be revealed.
“Today, the Euro Police has warned about increased LTTE activities outside the country. The organisation has been decimated locally. But, they sustain a rigorous and vicious campaign against Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is impossible for the government to reduce security accorded to the President,” he said.
However, MP Jayasekera confronted the Minister saying that he only intended to know the amount sent by the Sri Lankan Mission in the US for security personnel and others who accompanied this entourage to the summit.
Prof. Peiris only said in response that security personnel are not normally counted as part of the official delegation. Though he said that an additional cost was borne for such personnel, he did not reveal the exact amount.
Meanwhile, UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake asked about the resignation of British Foreign Secretary Liam Fox and the allegations made against him in connection with his visit to Sri Lanka.
The Minister declined to comment about it saying that it was totally irrelevant. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)
DM
