Sri Lankan President Declares Capital Areas High Security ZoneSri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has declared some areas of the country's capital Colombo high security zone under the Prevention of Terrorism Act reimposed on Thursday.The government said in a statement that no lorry or trailer will permitted to be driven to the high security zone including the western coastline in the country without permission of relevant authorities. The government has specified a list of streets which are included in the high security zone in capital Colombo. Kumaratunga issued an order on Thursday under the Prevention of Terrorism Act to reimpose a ban on the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels who have been fighting since 1983 in the country's north and east for an independent Tamil homeland. The similar emergency regulations which needs approval by Parliament monthly were lapsed on Wednesday as the government decided to postpone the voting scheduled on Friday due to objections of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the leftist JVP or People's Liberation Front together with several Tamil parties. The president also issued two more orders under the Public Security Ordinance to call out the armed forces to maintain public order and the essential services throughout the island country. The ruling People's Alliance coalition government is facing a vote for the no-confidence motion tabled by UNP on June 22. The government was reduced to a minority in the 225-member Parliament on June 20 when its key Muslim ally the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress pulled out due to the dismissal of its leader Rauf Hakeem by Kumaratunga. The government has now 109 seats in the Parliament, four short of the 113-seat simple majority for its survival. |
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