(Lanka-e-News -19.March.2025, 10.40 PM) The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has dismissed a fundamental rights petition filed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa against the reduction of his security detail. The petition, submitted by Rajapaksa, challenged the government's decision to reduce his security personnel to 60 without proper evaluation.
The former president argued that this decision posed a threat to his personal safety. After extensive consideration, the Supreme Court decided not to proceed with the petition, marking a significant legal setback for Rajapaksa.
Mahinda Rajapaksa served as Sri Lanka’s president from 2005 to 2015 and later as prime minister from 2019 to 2022. He resigned from the premiership in May 2022 amid economic and political turmoil. As a former president and prime minister, Rajapaksa was entitled to special security arrangements under the government’s security protocols.
However, under the current government's cost-cutting measures, a review was conducted on security allocations for former presidents, prime ministers, and high-ranking officials. Following this review, it was decided to significantly reduce Rajapaksa’s security personnel, leaving him with only 60 officers.
In December, 116 of Rajapaksa’s security personnel were withdrawn, as communicated by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Human Resources to Rajapaksa’s security division. These officers, including seven chief police inspectors and four police inspectors, were reassigned to 38 police divisions.
These personnel were previously attached to the Retired Presidents’ Security Division Unit 5, which was responsible for Mahinda Rajapaksa’s security. Additionally, three security vehicles assigned to him were also withdrawn.
Rajapaksa filed the petition under the fundamental rights jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, claiming that the reduction in his security violated his fundamental rights. However, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition without taking it up for examination today (19).
This ruling could have implications for future security provisions and policies for former presidents and prime ministers, signaling potential changes in long-standing traditions. A photograph taken in December, before part of his security detail was reduced, shows Mahinda Rajapaksa with 176 security personnel.
-By A Staff Writer
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by (2025-03-19 17:13:04)
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