The State Intelligence Services (SIS) had decided to provide security for former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa upon his arrival to Sri Lanka on Sunday, State Minister of Mass Media Shantha Bandara said today.

Speaking in Parliament, the State Minister said the SIS decides on providing security to any individual, irrespective of whether they are a Parliamentarian or not.

State Minister Shantha Bandara pointed out that such security was provided earlier to President Ranil Wickremesinghe as well, when he was not an MP, which was a decision taken by the SIS.

“Basil Rajapaksa is the National Organizer of the ruling party of the incumbent government. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the security units to provide necessary protection for such a person,” he said.

According to The Morning newspaper, the Sri Lanka Police stated that Basil Rajapaksa was provided a Police escort to leave the Katunayake airport following his arrival in Sri Lanka due to his family ties and various opposition against him.

Citing Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa, the report said that one Police escort motorcycle was assigned for the security of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organizer.

SSP Thalduwa said this was due to the fact that he was the brother of two former Presidents, Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the National Organizer of a political Party etc