Colombo, June 27: The government will deploy 500 soldiers in Colombo to bolster crime prevention efforts in the capital after suspected Tamil Tiger rebels killed several police officers and informers, a government minister and a news report said today. "There is a joint security operation involving the police and the Army ... All of them will be conducting search operations," interior minister John Amaratunga said.

Although Amaratunga declined to say how many troops would be deployed, the 'Daily Mirror' newspaper reported that 500 troops would assist the police in maintaining an around-the-clock patrol in the capital and its suburbs in unmarked vehicles.

The move follows the assassination of a police intelligence officer near Colombo by a suspected militant on Monday. According to police, the assailant walked into a police station in broad daylight and shot the sleeping officer twice at close range.

Sri Lanka's main opposition People's Alliance today accused the government of "criminal irresponsibility" by removing the checkpoints and allowing the rebels to infiltrate the city after the cease-fire.

Party spokesman Sarath Amunugama said Monday's killing was proof that the Tigers are taking advantage of relaxed security in the capital, calling it a "total rejection of the truce."

Bureau Report