Former Commandant of the elite Special Task Force (STF) retired Senior DIG Nimal Lewke said that those in charge of VIP security should take utmost measures to prevent any untoward incident in the run-up to the Presidential Election.

Lewke, who served as the STF commandant during the 2002-2007 period, said that with the Presidential Election just three weeks away the government should appraise security of those vulnerable to threats.

Referring to the recent attempt made on the life of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Lewke urged the political leaders, and the police and military top brass, to remain vigilant.

Lewke called for sound intelligence, proper security threat assessment, analysis, command precept deployment and very effective close monitoring and supervision to ensure an incident-free campaign.

Responding to The Island queries, Lewke, who served the STF during the 1984-2009 period, said that Sri Lanka couldn’t under any circumstances forget how several party leaders and prominent politicians had been assassinated on the eve of various elections during the conflict.

“In spite of the eradication of separatist terrorism and the southern insurgency, the possibility of some sinister forces seeking to cause chaos cannot be ruled out,” Lewke said.

The retired senior DIG is one of those who received specialised training in the US, Israel and the UK. “Do not forget that ours is a country that faced a brutal war for 30 years and recently a huge riot/insurgency where the President had to flee the country. Large numbers of arms/ammo, explosives from the war, is still in the society and the knowledge of handling and making explosive devices being widespread, is a matter that needs close screening and supervision,” Lewke said.

Lewke pointed out that Sri Lankan authorities should closely examine the bid to assassinate Trump.

There are few basics that must be cleared. Did the relevant intelligence report issued ahead of Trump’s arrival at the rally, where he was targeted, indicate any threat to him? If not, it is a huge issue that should be investigated. What are the reconnaissance report findings? And suggestions? Did the report cover the high-rise buildings in the vicinity of the meeting location? Did they receive feedback from the local Police regarding the scheduled event?

Why was the building that had been used by the assassin not been secured? Lewke said that Trump had been lucky the assassin used an AR15 assault rifle with a telescope. If the assassin had used a weapon specialized to take such long range targets, the result could have been devastating, Lewke said.

The ex-commando said that immediately after the bid on the former US president, Wickremesinghe had announced the appointment of a top level committee, chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and comprising the Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chief of National Intelligence and the Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) of Police in charge of Elections, to oversee the personal security arrangements of candidates contesting the upcoming presidential election.

The government owed an explanation to the public regarding the outcome of the deliberations, Lewke said. (SF)