The main Parliamentary Opposition Party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), called on the relevant authorities to expedite the necessary assessments and provide enhanced security for SJB and Opposition Leader, and the former’s Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (19), SJB National Organiser and Opposition Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake said that the relevant authorities including the Police Department earlier stated that they would carry out a threat assessment and then provide enhanced security for Premadasa, but, such security is yet to be provided. "It is these days that he (Premadasa) attends more rallies. There should be more security arrangements for him these days. The Police and the other authorities should finalise the relevant assessments and make the necessary arrangements."

The Presidential Election is scheduled for 21 September. Premadasa is among the mainstream candidates such as incumbent President and independent Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna-led National People's Power (NPP) Leader and Opposition MP and NPP Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Government MP and SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa.

Attempts to contact the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General (retired) Kamal Gunaratne proved futile.

SJB General Secretary and Opposition MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, on an earlier occasion, said that they recently had a discussion with former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, the latter who was subsequently prevented from serving in the said position by way of an interim order issued by the Supreme Court. During that discussion, the then IGP had informed the SJB's representatives that the necessary course of action on enhanced security for Premadasa would be taken following a threat assessment.