Over 70,000 security personnel deployed for Sri Lanka election

Colombo, January 6: Over 70,000 security personnel were deployed in Sri Lanka ahead of the presidential election Thursday as campaigning ended on Tuesday. The strong security contingent includes 66,100 police personnel and 5,000 members of the Special Task Force (STF), to ensure a free and fair election, Ceylon Today reported. Police spokesperson Ajith Roha revealed that 420 permanent road barricades would be in place in addition to road–blocks around the country to check suspicious vehicles and persons during election time. On the last day of campaigning on Tuesday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and opposition candidate Maithripala Sirise held rallies to gather last minute support, with each claiming that he would win, Xinhua reported. Rajapaksa said his supporters should not take revenge on the opposition if he won the election. (IANS)