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S. Lankan President Appoints High Level Committee to Ensure Airport Security
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga appointed a high-powered national committee on Wednesday night which will recommend measures to ensure tight security at civilian airports specially the country's only international airport after a Tamil Tiger rebel attack last week.
The National Committee on Airport Security headed by Defense Secretary Chandananda de Silva aims to reassure the international airline industry and the travel trade of the safety of Sri Lanka's airports.
The committee will make arrangements to prevent any more Tamil rebel attacks on airports. The separatist Tamil Tiger rebels last week attacked and caused havoc at the Bandaranaike International Airport and adjoining air force base destroying or damaging 14 civilian and military aircraft in all.
The committee will also comprise the inspector general of police, the service commanders secretary to the Ministry of Aviation and Airport Development, secretary to the Ministry of Tourism and representatives from the airport and aviation services.
Since the attack on the country's only international airport security has already been beefed up and almost normal levels of operations have commenced.
A three member Presidential Commission of Inquiry has also been appointed to probe the rebel attack. Retired President of the Court of Appeal Justice D. Jayawickrema will head the commission.
The Criminal Investigations Department and the Air force are continuing with their own investigations. Eleven more air force personnel including the commander who was in charge of security at the international airport have been interdicted.
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