Naval, Police and Military security was intensified around the President’s House yesterday where President Chandrika Kumaratunga resides following reports of mass demonstrations by supporters of the ruling United National Front (UNF) to demand her to part with the portfolio of Defence.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has assured the President that there would be no such demonstration. However, Defence sources confirmed that security was intensified with more men and armoured vehicles being deployed around the President’s House.

The ruling UNF on Monday urged her to part with the portfolio of Defence to help the ruling party to compose the new Cabinet of Ministers. "We wrote to her officially on Monday but she has not responded", a senior UNF leader said.

PA opposition appear to be divided on the issue of handing over the Defence portfolio to the ruling party.

Sources said that some senior PA men are reported to have advised the President to hand over the subject to avoid collision between the government and the executive while another section in the PA has pressurised the President to retain it.

This issue was expected to be discussed at the inaugural meeting of the PA Parliamentary group yesterday.

Former PA Minister and a UNF National List nominee S. B. Dissanayake told an interview over the TNL on Monday night that if the President kept Defence against the wishes of the people, he would not hesitate to bring 400,000 people near the President’s House to stage a protest.