Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has expressed suspicions of a possible assassination plot against her, reminiscent of the politically motivated killing of her husband, the late Vijaya Kumaratunga. 

She voiced her concerns about a significant reduction in her security detail, stating that the move poses a direct threat to her safety, especially in light of past political conspiracies. 

In a letter to Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, Kumaratunga highlighted the cut in her security personnel from 50 to 30 following an order issued on October 31 by Senior DIG Ajith Hemasiri. 

The former president noted that other former leaders receive considerably higher levels of protection; for instance, Mahinda Rajapaksa is allotted 243 security personnel, while Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa have 109 and 200 officers, respectively. 

Kumaratunga questioned the reasoning behind the drastic cut in her security, particularly given her unique status as the only former president who has survived an assassination attempt. 

Citing intelligence reports that indicated threats to her life from the LTTE, even after her retirement, she emphasized that, as the most threatened among former presidents, she requires a larger security presence. 

In her letter, Kumaratunga also criticized current government leaders who previously vowed to avoid “elite protection” but are now safeguarded by hundreds of personnel. She questioned whether the administration has acknowledged the need for significant protection for prominent figures in the country.