July 25, 2008	Friday	Rajab 21, 1429

COLOMBO, July 24: An advance Indian security contingent providing security to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his delegation for the upcoming Saarc Summit has already arrived in Colombo, a government minister said on Thursday refusing to divulge the full numbers of the team. According to well informed sources, an Indian Navy ship has already entered Sri Lankan shores in order to monitor the coastal area. An Indian helicopter along with a bullet-proof car is also expected to arrive this week. Defence spokesperson minister Keheliya Rambukwella said a ‘larger than the average’ number of security personnel are expected from India for the security of the Indian premier, stating that an advance team had already arrived in the island.

“President Rajapakse too has on occasions taken his own security on some of his visits overseas,” Minister Rambukwella said stating that expecting international security for an event such as Saarc is normal.

Meanwhile, a tight security net in Colombo for the Saarc summit that takes place amidst a government rejection of a ceasefire offer by the LTTE, thousands of Sri Lankan security personnel, are expected to be deployed in the capital to ensure the safety of the Saarc leaders, officials said.

On Tuesday, the LTTE offered a cessation of military hostilities from July 26 to August 4 which the government spurned. Soon after the ceasefire offer by the Tamil Tigers government Chief Peace Negotiator Minister Nimal de Siripala described a return to a ceasefire with the LTTE as giving ‘oxygen’ to the LTTE.

Military sources say they would take extra precaution following the ceasefire offer of the Tiger separatists.“ It is a ruse for international sympathy and is all the more reason for Sri Lanka to be extra vigilant if the former game plans of the LTTE are anything to go by,” a defence official said stating that on representations from some of the Saarc countries, the government has permitted heads of state to bring their own security contingents.

As part of the tight security cover, several key areas in the capital Colombo would be declared out of bounds for the public from July 31 to August 3, officials said.

Additional checkpoints are being set up in many areas in and around Colombo and the routes leading to five star hotels, accommodating the international leaders and their delegations will be closed, government officials in charge of the Saarc security arrangements confirmed.

According to the security plans, the BMICH conference hall which is the summit venue, hotels where the delegations would stay and the Katunayaka Air Base would be declared High Security Zones.