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There were indications to suspect that an attempt had been made on the life of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, when the Presidential motorcade was obstructed at Attanagalle on March 20, when the Local Government Elections were held, Presidential Media Director Janadasa Peries said in a statement issued Monday. Press Release March 25, 2002 Details have emerged of a possible attempt to assassinate President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at Alawala in Attanagalle on March 20, when the road she was travelling in was obstructed. Suspicions of an assassination attempt have gained ground due to the attempt by the police to downplay the seriousness of the incident. Complaints made to the police revealed that in addition to obstructing the road taken by the President, shots had been fired from a wooded area nearby. Since there were reports of threats and bodily harm to PA supporters from about three weeks before the Local Government Election, the President toured the area to make a personal assessment. She again toured her home constituency on the day of the election and met and spoke with many friends and associates. Having passed the Alawala area and proceeded to Eha-Udakanda she was on her way back when some persons had obstructed the road by cutting down and placing a tree across. Officers of the Presidential escort immediately alighted from their vehicles and investigated the area. At this point villagers had seen some suspicious persons fleeing towards the hill on the right. At the same time shots were heard from the direction of the woods. Immediately the President telephoned Mr. Padmasiri Liyanage, DIG Western Province North, and complained to him about the incident. The Presidential Security Division has already submitted a comprehensive report in this regard to DIG Liyanage. Thereafter the Police Inspector who was in the Presidential Escort made an official complaint to the Nittambuwa police. Statements have also been recorded from several officers of the Presidential Security Division. While one suspect has been arrested the same day, he had later been bailed out. Three others who surrendered to the police two days after the incident had been produced before the Attanagalle Additional Magistrate the same day and been released two hours later. The Presidential Secretariat has received several petitions from residents in the area voicing their suspicion about the manner in which the police have acted to release on bail the suspects in this incident. They allege that the police are treating very lightly and acting irresponsibly even a matter which concerns the security of the President. The actions of the police contrast very highly with the manner in which they acted in respect of the five officers of the Presidential Security Division who were arrested in Maturata while on an advance survey ahead of the visit of the President to the area, before the last General Election. They were kept in remand for several weeks for an attempted murder. They were denied bail on several occasions. Attanagalle residents allege that the police have - at the instance of powerful politicians in the area - acted with alacrity to release those arrested in a matter which directly concerns the security of the President. It is therefore clear that the security of the President who is both the Head of State and the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, is very much in question. While on the one hand officers of the Presidential Security Division are being demoralised and frustrated by bringing baseless charges against them, on the other hand a very liberal attitude is displayed towards those connected to an incident where there is a direct threat to her life. The reasons for the double standards are intriguing.
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