All army personnel assigned for the security detail of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa have been withdrawn, his media unit said today.

There were 102 army personnel attached to his security, the media unit said.

However, the government sources said the former President had been provided with sufficient Police security. They further said the Police security was given after a proper assessment of the former President's requirements. 

The government in April announced that the army will be removed from the security detail of President Rajapaksa. However, on April 6, the government back-tracked and assured that Rajapaksa will be provided the full security detail composed of 103 army and 103 police personnel he was assigned.

Meanwhile, addressing a meeting with newspaper editors and media heads last Wednesday, President Maithripala Sirisena said no other country in the world had given military protection to a person attempting to topple the government.