News Today: Former Minister Criticizes Govt’s Security Response, Urges Accountability

Former Minister Kanchana Wijesekera has criticized the government, citing a lack of knowledge and experience in handling the country’s security matters. Addressing the media regarding recent travel advisories from several embassies, Wijesekera expressed disappointment with the Public Security and Foreign Affairs Ministers, holding them accountable for neglecting their responsibilities amid potential threats. He emphasized that while he isn’t calling for resignations, he urges these leaders to rectify their mistakes.

The former Minister also raised questions about the timing of the public announcement. “Was the public notified immediately when the U.S. Embassy issued the advisory, or only after local intelligence confirmed the threat?” Wijesekera asked. According to him, the government should have informed the public about the security measures taken after receiving information on October 7th from the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Additionally, Wijesekera pointed out the government’s failure to provide heightened security across tourist zones, particularly the Southern Province. He noted that while the tri-forces were deployed to Arugam Bay, similar measures were absent in other critical tourist destinations.

National security should be paramount, he stressed, as travel advisories have already led to significant tourist cancellations, impacting the country’s tourism industry. According to Wijesekera, had the government acted earlier, they might have mitigated the need for such advisories. He also urged government officials to engage with embassy representatives to prevent further damage to Sri Lanka’s reputation and tourism.