Security operations to ensure safety of school children
May 06, 2019During the past 48 hours, the armed forces have focused their full attention on the safety of school children. We have fully evaluated the security status quo and taken all necessary preventive security measures covering all the schools. These security arrangements will continue until the fear psychosis of the public is eliminated and the security is fully ensured. The public is welcome to make their suggestions and views known to the armed forces or the police in this regard, said so the Military Spokesman and director, Media Centre Brigadier Sumith Atapattu during the press briefing held at the Media Centre in Kollupitiya, Sunday evening (05).
He also requested the public not to believe hearsay and rumors spread through social media sources and rely on authentic news provided by the authorities. The prime responsibility of the armed forces is to ensure security of the people. Have faith on them as they are the ones who had saved the nation from the clutches of terrorism in the past. We must not weaken ourselves but we must stand together as one nation, authorities are continuing operations to apprehend all terrorists, he further said.
A person who had 7 camouflage uniforms similar to those worn by the Army and Air Force was arrested during a search operation conducted at the Kalutara North Railway Station by the Navy. In addition five individuals were arrested during another such operation in Trincomalee for having in their possession videos showing the activities of international terrorist groups. Another two persons were arrested in Galle for having similar videos with them. Navy is also fully involved in the combined operations to ensure security to schools. This was revealed by the Navy Spokesman Lieutenant Commander Isuru Sooribandara at the press briefing.
The Air Force is involved in assuring security to schools in several areas in the island. All the schools in the country have been divided into 21 sectors for this security clearance operations and the Air Force is given the responsibility of three sectors and one sub sector. Air Force has also stationed its personnel in these schools after completing security clearance as an additional security measure. This was revealed by the Air Force Spokesman Group Captain Gihan Seneviratne at the press briefing.
It is observed that a letter mentioning of a possible attack on bridges and flyovers being circulated in the social media. This letter has been sent to notify authorities of unconfirmed basic information received by police. It has been revealed that there is no truth in that information. Therefore the public has nothing to fear, said so the Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara during the press briefing.
All schools in Colombo well as in other parts of the country were checked during the special operations conducted Sunday.
Samarasinghe Arachchige Madush Lakshitha alias Makandure Madush arrived in the country after being deported from Dubai, Sunday morning (05). Madush, an organized criminal was taken in by the CID unit at the Katunayake airport and later was brought to the CID Head Office in Colombo. He is being questioned by the CID. He had left the country in June 2015 with forged travel documents containing fake information. The CID is conducting extensive investigations into a number of criminal activities including murder, robbery and drug smuggling carried out by Madush, the Police Spokesman further revealed.