Colombo: A large contingent of highly- trained Indian security personnel along with special aircraft is expected to guard Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to the strife-torn Sri Lanka to attend the SAARC Summit in August.

"President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given approval for a heavy Indian military presence in Sri Lanka during the SAARC summit," the Sunday Leader newspaper said.

The report comes days after a high-level Indian delegation comprising National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon visited Sri Lanka in a closely-guarded tour and discussed with officials here the arrangements from the summit apart from other issues of mutual interest.

The newspaper claimed the Presidential approval for the presence of Indian security personnel was granted following a request by India in view of the tense security situation in the island country.

"President Rajapaksa on Wednesday informed the Cabinet that India had made a request for special security arrangements and that he had given the green light," it said.

"The formal request to have Indian troops, helicopter gunships, bullet proof vehicles and related security arrangements was made by the three-member Indian delegation that visited Sri Lanka on June 20," the report said.

Another newspaper The Sunday Times in a report titled India to look after its own security said Prime Minister Singh has decided to "rely on his very own specialised Indian security for protection during his stay in the island."

Quoting "highly-placed sources," it said, "the highly-trained Indian Black Cats would provide the necessary protection to the Indian premier during his visit here to participate at the summit."

"It is learnt the Indian Government would also dispatch a bulletproof vehicle and helicopter to Sri Lanka just days prior to the summit for Singh's sole use," Sunday Times said. "Apart from the security and vehicles, the Indian government has also proposed for Indian naval officers to keep vigil on Lankan waters during their premier's visit to the island," the report said quoting sources.

It said India's concern for Singh's security stems from the July 1987 incident when a junior Sri Lankan Navy personnel tried to attack then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with a butt of his gun during the Indian leader's visit here.

The Sunday Leader said it is learnt the government had "also agreed to allow the Indian Navy to patrol and carry out surveillance in Sri Lankan territorial waters during the summit to ensure there are no terrorist attacks from the sea." "It is learnt the (Sri Lankan) government was requested to permit the entry of a large contingent of specially trained Indian security forces personnel into Colombo a week before the summit," it said.

"These elite personnel are to take under their control the venue of the summit and the hotel the Indian delegation would be staying in," the newspaper said. The Sunday Leader said the "Indian Prime Minister and his officials along with his security personnel are to be transported in bulletproof vehicles and trucks that will be brought down to Colombo from India." "Another special Indian helicopter and attack aircraft are also to be brought down for the Indian prime minister."

"India, informed sources said, also wants to set up special radars in Colombo... During the period of the summit, the skies in Colombo are to be taken under the control of a special Indian air force team in order to prevent any possible LTTE air attack, it is learnt," it said. Indian Navy is to patrol with fast attack craft the seas around Colombo city during the summit, the paper said.

Source : PTI