Sri Lanka Military Gets Sweeping Powers To Protect Religious Places

Colombo: Nearly 4,000 military personnel with sweeping police powers to arrest suspects were on Thursday tasked to provide security to churches and other religious places across Sri Lanka in the wake of the Easter Sunday bombings.

A statement from the Defence Ministry said hundreds of Army officers and other ranks “immediately took up position” across the country after the armed forces were conferred with “the powers of search, detention or arrest without warrant”, reports Efe news. A total of 3,984 military personnel in coordination with the police will provide security to religious places and vital installations like power stations, government buildings, hospitals, hotels, bus stands and television centres. All embassies and diplomatic missions have also been given necessary security. Security has also been beefed up at highways, public markets, bridges and “all other vulnerable points”, the statement said. (IANS)

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