Kumaratunga presides over first NSC meeting

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 November 2003, 16:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, Thursday presided over the first meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) after she dismissed the defense minister of the United National Front (UNF) government, Mr.Tilak Marapone, Presidential secretariat sources said.

Heads of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and the Police Force attended the meeting and discussed in detail the current security situation of the country. The new secretary to defense ministry, Mr. Cyril Heart, also attended, the sources said

Meanwhile, the Deputy President of the UNF and a senior minister, Mr.Karu Jayasuriya, and government whip and minister, Mr.Mahinda Samarasinghe, Thursday briefed the heads of all police divisions in Colombo about the reception scheduled to be accorded to Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe when he returns to the Katunayake International Airport (KIA) Friday morning around 8.30 a.m from his US visit.

The Prime Minister is to be taken in a motor convoy to “Temple Trees,” his official residence in Colombo from KIA, UNF media unit said.

UNF leaders requested the assistance of the police officers in this regard, sources said.