The Presidential Security Division Under Chandrika
By Rajan Hoole –March 21, 2015
Dr. Rajan Hoole
The old PSD trained by the Israelis became inactive after President Premadasa’s assassination. When Chandrika Kumaratunga contested the provincial council elections in 1993, those close to her were on the lookout for an unofficial security team apart from the official police security team. A notable member of the former was Morris Amarasinghe alias Baddegana Sanjeewa, a vehicle seizer for a finance company, and persons associated with him. Many such persons, after Kumaratunga became president, were absorbed into the PSD, the reserve or were discharged with favours – liquor licences have been cited in the Press. Chief Inspector Nihal Karunaratne who had served in the BSO under DIG Udugampola came into her security team, as ASP, PSD and became responsible for her security.
The original reasons for Chandrika Kumaratunga looking for additional security personnel, often thugs linked to the SLFP or SLMP, are understandable. She was vulnerable in 1993. But once such an outfit was put together under the auspices of the State in the form of the PSD, the temptation to use it for unlawful purposes was bound to be strong. Arming thugs as auxiliaries under the State was practised during the UNP regime. Under the Jayewardene regime for example, Gonawela Sunil was given a government job. Under Premadasa, Sothi Upali is said to have been a sub-inspector in the Police Reserve. The PSD then, however, did not generally get involved in scandal. There were others for dirty work. Under Kumaratunga, personnel from the PSD have acquired a reputation for thuggery, corrupt practices and worse.
Nihal Karunaratne
A man central to the controversy surrounding the presidential circle is the President’s media advisor Sanath Gunatileke, an actor, former Premadasa supporter and UNP provincial councillor. Following the 1994 presidential election he was appointed to that position at a salary of Rs.25,000/= per month – the same as the President’s. He seems to have rather played a role in exacerbating the President’s problems with the media.
