Prime Minister's Security Division
Prime Minister's Security Division (PMSD) is a unit of the Sri Lanka Police charged with the close protection of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. It is headed by a gazetted officer of the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). The unit consists of both uniformed and non-uniformed officers who provide close protection and guard Prime Ministerial residences.
History
With the formation of the office of the Prime Minister of Ceylon, an ASP or an IP was assigned for the personal protection of prime minister with a small detachment of police constables, who were usually armed with Lee–Enfield rifles to guard Temple Trees. These policemen lacked special training in close protection. This was highlighted when Prime Minister S W R D Bandaranaike was assassinated at his private residence by Talduwe Somarama. Following the assassination, security was enhanced with a detachment of the Ceylon Army including Ferret armoured cars of the Ceylon Armoured Corps. The need for specialized independent unit was once again highlighted when personal from the internal security detail of the Royal Ceylon Navy, the Provost Branch were brought to guard Temple Trees on the night of 27 January 1962 when the attempted military coup by senior police and military officers was due to be launched. In 1970, the security of the prime minister was assigned to the Field Security Detachment of the Ceylon Army.
With the creation of the Executive Presidency in 1978 the Prime Minister ceased to be the head of government. This reduced the power of the post, however with the escalation of political associations as a result of the Sri Lankan civil war and the JVP Uprising (1988-1989) the security of the Prime Minister increased. For this purpose the Prime Minister's Security Division was officially created in the 1990s with specially trained police officers and Special Task Force personal attached to it.
On January 5, 2000, personal of the PMSD prevented an assassination attempt by a female suicide bomber of the LTTE, the bomber detonated the bomb outside the Prime Minister's Office killing 13 civilians and three police officers attached to the PMSD.
See also
- President's Guard
- Sri Lanka Police
- President's Security Division
External links
- President's Security now Comes Under New Army Unit
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- Office of the President of Sri Lanka
- Minister of Defence
- Office of the Chief of the Defence Staff
- Ministry of Law and Order
- Inspector General of Police
- Ministry of Defence
- Ministry of Law and Order
- Sri Lanka Police
- Criminal Investigation Department
- Financial Crimes Investigation Division
- Special Task Force
- Sri Lanka Customs
- Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police
- Directorate of Military Intelligence
- State Intelligence Service
- Centre for Defence Research and Development
- Police
- Special Task Force
- Army
- Special Forces Regiment
- Commando Regiment
- Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol
- Air Force
- Air Force Regiment Special Force
- Special Airborne Force
- Navy
- Special Boat Squadron
- Marine Corps
- President's Security Division
- Prime Minister's Security Division
- Sri Lanka Police Mounted Division