17 October 2011 08:35 pm
Some MPs are up in arms against the decision by the security authorities that their security personnel should wear uniforms while being on duty, the Daily Mirror learns.
After the shooting incident in Kolonnawa on the day of polling, the government made it compulsory for all security personnel deployed for duty to guard MPs across the political divide to wear uniforms.
Asked about the matter, UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said that these security personnel are sometimes required to be on duty with the VIP concerned for 10 to 15 hours at a stretch, and therefore, it was impossible for them to be clad in uniforms for such long hours.
“These poor police officers have only one or two uniform kits. It is difficult for them to use them all the time. There are no facilities for them to wash them regularly either. We sometimes start our work early in the morning and go on till midnight. For such long hours, how can they remain in uncomfortable uniforms?” he asked.
Mr. Jayasekera said that the government could not erase this violent political culture by asking VIP security personal to wear uniforms.
He said that a large number of colleagues were unhappy about this decision.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror learns that a government politician hailing from Polonnaruwa had apparently protested against this decision by the government. He had reportedly declined to keep security personnel unless they were allowed to wear normal clothes during duty hours. (Kelum Bandara)