Sri Lanka former President given 213 body guards and 21 vehicles: Cabinet Spokesmen

Mar 25, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapakse has been given 213 body guards from the army and the police for security purposes plus 21 vehicles, government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said at a press briefing held in Colombo, recently.



He said this while replying to claims made by Rajapakse’s campaigners that he was not provided with adequate vehicles and security. Senaratne said according to a directive given by the Supreme Court in 2007 in response to a petition filed by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, a former president is only entitled to two official vehicles, one backup security vehicle, three drivers, Fuel and an official residence. “Instead of that we have given 108 army personnel,105 police officers , Two bulletproofs cars, one dummy car, one defender vehicle, one land cruiser vehicle and one double cab for personal use and given three double cabs, two vans, eight motorbikes, one bus and one land cruiser for transport purposes of the security personnel,” Senaratne said. “But he still says it is not enough,” He said Lalith Weeratunga, the former Presidential Secretary had signed and obtained the above mentioned vehicles for Rajapakse. Senaratne said with the defeat at the presidential election Rajapakse had also taken 30 cars from the presidential secretariat when he vacated it. “We had to ask him to return those to us, "Senaratne said.



“Among them there were few cars which were badly damaged,” “But he is yet to return most of it.” He said.