by Cyril Wimalasurendre
KANDY - The Prime Ministerial Security Division (PMSD) gave up security inspections at the 33rd Convention sessions of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) yesterday (16) at the Bogambara Grounds after the CWC leader, Minister Arumugam Thondaman, issued instructions to halt checking of his members entering the venue.

The orders came from Minister Thondaman following a clash between the minister’s security and the PMSD personnel as thousands of CWC members gate crashed objecting to security checks.

During the attempt by the CWC members both men and women, who came in a procession crashed into the cadjan-roofed convention hall at Bogambara.

In the course of the attempt by the police personnel to prevent the gate crash a police officer of the rank of the Sub-Inspector of the PMSD sustained an injury.

The Minister’s Security Division (MDS) personnel were assisting the free entrance to the CWC members despite the PMSD wanting otherwise.

Following the clash between the CWC and PMSD, the entire police deployed to ensure security had withdrawn from security checks at the venue of the convention before the arrival of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who was the chief guest.