Sri Lanka, July 8 -- Special police protection is being provided to 454 persons, including former MPs, former IGPs, retired judges, chief incumbent monks of several temples, a Bishop and a former First Lady, Parliament was informed yesterday.

A document tabled in Parliament by Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala in response to an oral question raised by MP Kavinda Jayawardene revealed that chief incumbent monks of temples in areas such as Anuradhapura, Colombo and Kandy, as well as the Catholic Bishop of Kandy, are among those provided with special police protection.

The document also revealed that former First Lady Hema Premadasa, wife of late President Ranasinghe Premadasa; former IGPs Pujith Jayasundara, Deshabandu Tennekoon...