In the wake of security concerns raised by Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, military forces have been deployed to tighten security at all Catholic churches and selected public places as a precautionary measure, due to the lack of intelligence of such a threat, Army Media Spokesperson Brigadier Sumith Atapattu told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith had sent a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena on September 30, passing the information he received about a possible attack on Catholic churches once again.
In the letter, the Cardinal has stated that an attack could trigger during the period, October 15-25.
“Following the Cardinal’s letter we briefed all security agencies. We discussed this matter at the National Security Council too.
Now that the emergency law is not in force, we have taken necessary precautions with the help of the Police, parallel with intelligence work to provide due protection” Brigadier Atapattu explained. Meanwhile, spokesperson of the Catholic Church of Sri Lanka Rev. Fr. Jude Krishantha told the Sunday Observer that the Cardinal directed this letter to the President considering some key facts.