Lanka Prez deploys armed forces to maintain public order

Colombo:  Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued a special gazette notice calling on the armed forces to maintain public order across the country, for the safety of the general public, media reports said on Monday.

The gazette notice was issued over the weekend and calls upon the army, navy and the airforce to be deployed in all 25 districts including Sri Lanka's capital Colombo.

Sri Lanka's new Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne told local journalists that the special gazette notice was issued to maintain law and order and not meant to carry out a military administration.

Any political violence which arises following the conclusion of the recently held presidential election will not be tolerated and all those involved will be arrested by the armed forces, the Defence Secretary said.

Newly-elected President Rajapaksa last week vowed to strengthen national security and establish a secure country where everyone "can live without any fear", especially after the Easter Sunday suicide attacks on April 21 which killed over 250 people.

Rajapaksa won the November 16 presidential election, with strengthening national security being his core point in his election pledge.