Armed soldier near President: Army HQ orders parallel probe

Fresh instructions to VIP security men expected

By Shamindra Ferdinando-May 4, 2015, 8:05 pm 

Army headquarters is expected to issue fresh instructions to personnel assigned for VIP security in the wake of the recent arrest of a member of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s security contingent near the stage where President Maithripala Sirisena was to address a gathering at Angunakolapelessa in the Hambantota district.

A senior military official told The Island that the arrested soldier was Commando Corporal Senaka Kumara attached to the security contingent assigned to former President Rajapaksa. Army Chief Lt. Gen. Crishanthe de Silva has ordered what the official called a very thorough inquiry into the incident.

At the time of his arrest, the soldier had been with UPFA Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.

"We intend to take remedial action," another official said, while acknowledging tangible measures were needed to prevent unnecessary trouble especially in the run-up to the next presidential election. "We’ll fully cooperate with the Criminal Investigation Department handling the probe."

Army spokesman Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera said that the Military Police were in the process of conducting the investigation. The official declined to elaborate.

The police will record MP Rajapaksa’s statement regarding the incident.

Responding to a query, police and military officials said that members of parliament weren’t entitled to army bodyguards. Obviously, MP Namal Rajapaksa had been accompanied by his father’s bodyguards on numerous occasions during the Rajapaksa presidency and felt confident in continuing with the practice, they said.

The police arrested the suspect on May 2, though the security breach occurred on April 25. Many an eyebrow had been raised over the inordinate delay in arresting the soldier, police said, adding that investigators would examine whether anyone tried to suppress the probe.

The army commando was later produced before the Angunakolapelessa Magistrate and remanded till May 12.

Immediately after the incident on April 25, MP Rajapaksa told the media that the soldier had only a bottle of water with him at the time.

MP Rajapaksa also explained the incident to President Maithripala Sirisena.