Police Media Spokesperson Senior DIG Nihal Thalduwa issued a clarification in response to reports that the former President’s security detail had been completely removed.
Addressing media, SDIG Thalduwa said that a certain number of security personnel including 50 Special Task Force personnel were assigned to the former president’s security.
Clarifying further Thalduwa said that former presidents are entitled to a special security unit called Ex-PSD. Accordingly, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, as the 8th president, will have the Ex-PSD 8 unit established, for his security requirments, Thalduwa said.
“The number of security personnel required for this unit will soon be determined by a committee led by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security,” he said.
Thalduwa noted that no personnel have been removed from the former president’s detail, and the reports of 337 personnel being removed were incorrect.
He explained that only a redesignation of security personnel has taken place, with some being reassigned to the current president’s detail, while the rest remain with the former president. (Newswire)