Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa took a stroll in a local open space, the Independence Avenue Park, on Sunday — his first without a locality being sanitised ahead of his appearance.

In a city with many Army sentry posts and barricades, this marked another first: that of a President stepping out in an open, fairly crowded space and signalling an end to the siege mentality that has been the defining feature of Sri Lanka for many decades.

Mr. Rajapaksa, the most protected person in Sri Lanka because of the threats to his life from various quarters, drove down to the Independence Avenue in his black 7-series BMW, with barely any security.

"After he finished a meeting, he told us to come with him to the Square," said the President's secretary, Lalith Weeratunga. He and the former Justice Minister, Milinda Moragoda, were with the President.

Mr. Moragoda is the ruling UPFA's candidate for Mayor in the upcoming Colombo Municipal Council elections. The walk, in some ways, also signalled the launch of UPFA's campaign.

During his half-an-hour walk in the park, Mr. Rajapaksa stopped to chat with people who recognised him and enquired after the facilities in the park.

He also posed for a few photographs with people who were struck by the fact that their President was right there, in front of them.

At least one nation-wide poll has rated Mr. Rajapaksa's popularity "very high". Mr. Rajapaksa told The Hindu that he and his government had a slew of plans for Colombo and surrounding areas. These would become a reality over the next few years.

Presidential spokesman Bandula Jayasekara, a regular walker at the park, said people were only now flocking to the place in large numbers. "They are safe and they all thank the President for it," he added.