Unprecedented security arrangements made during SAARC Summit Colombo | Friday, Aug 1 2008 IST
Heads of States/Governments of eight South Asian nations meet here tomorrow and on Sunday for the 15th SAARC Summit amid unprecedented security arrangements and under the shadow of increasing terrorist incidents in the region. Indian naval ships have been anchored off the Sri Lankan coast and elite security personnel deployed at all sensitive points in the Sri Lankan capital. Security personnel have been deployed on roof-tops and all along the 40-km route from the Bandaranaike International Airport on the outskirts of Colombo to the Convention Centre where the two-day Summit would be held and at the hotels where the leaders are staying. The Summit is being held under the shadow of increasing terrorist incidents in the region and serial bombings in Bangalore and Ahmedabad. MI-17 helicopters have been on aerial surveillance of high-security zones to thwart any attempt to disrupt the Summit. The Indian Navy has intensified patrolling along the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar and along the maritime boundary line in coordination with the Sri Lankan navy. The Sri Lankan government has deployed 19,000 additional security personnel as part of the security exercise. EDS Pick up suitably from earlier series. -- (UNI) -- 01DF19.xml
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