• President wants efforts ‘redoubled’ to crush terrorism in Sri Lanka
• Govt to pilot SriLankan; Staff, Travel trade wary
• Increased security for Opposition MPs
• Lanka’s $ 500 m Bond issue wins 2 awards
• Pongal bonanza for people
• President meets select business leaders to get ideas to tame inflation, boost economy
• Apparel sector in crisis meeting with Mahinda tomorrow

Editorial: On the highway of death

Political column: Sri Lanka: Final call

The Ex Files : “Public service now a govt. service”

Defence Line: Eelam War IV sans CFA

As I see it: Tamils disturbed by CFA withdrawal

What's Inside

• Passenger demand surges to 18-month high in Nov. says IATA
• Mideast carriers post 18.8 per cent growth
• JKH offers schols for Moratuwa Uni transport and logistics management students
• Indian Minister plays safe, consults PM on new Sethu affidavit
• Developments in the Economy in 2007
• HSBC Global Research’s Checklist for 2008 growth outlook
• SCOPP slams UNP
• Vociferous MPs in Govt. hit list - UNP
• Alien plant invades Mahaweli areas
• Dozen LTTE cadres killed in Jaffna
• Govt. attacks prevent schooling in N&E
• UNP wearing ‘Black’ denounce Govt in House
• Sri Lanka Tourism assures no cause for alarm
• Weerawansa foresees UN peace keepers in SL
• Murali to be felicitated in Parliament today
• Trade Unions unite

Increased security for Opposition MPs

By Rathindra Kuruwita
The Speaker announced in Parliament yesterday that the Prime Minister had agreed to comply with the UNP demand for increased security for opposition MPs. Earlier, at the party leaders’ meeting, UNP Chief Organiser Joseph Michael Perera, had asked the government for increased security for their MPs.

“We demanded that the number of security personnel allocated for opposition MPs should be increased to five. I also asked the government to provide a backup vehicle and security should also be provided for their houses,” he said. In addition, the UNP Chief Organiser stated that security personnel provided should be equipped with suitable weapons to respond to a threat. “The number of security personnel should increase according to their threat level too.”

He also added that permission given to several government MPs to bring armed security personnel into the Parliament compound has created a huge security issue. “The security inside Parliament is the responsibility of the Speaker; he is the one in command of the Parliament police.

We should not allow these armed bodyguards to come inside Parliament. I know some of these MPs have threats but if the Parliament police cannot provide security for the MPs inside the compound, what is the point of having them?” he asked.

Parliamentary sources revealed that the UNP MPs are more suspicious about the private security personnel of Minister Devananda, although, presently, both Minister Douglas Devananda and MP Basil Rajapaksa are allowed to bring armed security personnel into the Parliament compound.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka stated that he will take the responsibility of providing security for MPs after the opposition expressed their displeasure towards the reduction of security provided.