Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe said, in Kandy, yesterday, that severe punishment would be meted out to those who destroyed Buddha statues. He said he had directed Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the CID to apprehend the culprits and apply the full weight of the law against them.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe said so, addressing the media at Malwatte Maha Viharaya, after calling on the Most Venerable Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddharatha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera.
PM Wicremasinghe said that some persons had been arrested over the destruction of the Buddha statues. There were also reports of causing damage to Hindu temples in the recent past, the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Wickremasinghe told the media that the UNP-led government would protect Buddhism in keeping with the Constitution.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe expressed his gratitude Mahanayake Theras for the guidance given by them to protect the sovereignty during recent political trouble.
Wickremesinghe said that an assurance had been given to the Mahanayake Theras that the government would safeguard the unitary status of the country and grant relief to the masses.
The PM participated at a ‘Maha Dane’ Organised by the Most Venerable Mahanayake Thera of Malwatte Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera to mark the opening of the Sri Sangharaja Memorial Building Complex built by the prelate.
Earlier in the day Prime Minister Wickremasinghe called on the prelate of Asgiriya the Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratna Thera and paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic.
On arrival of the Prime Minister, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela welcomed the PM and conducted him to the shrine.
Kandy Mayor Kesara D. Senanayake Received the Prime Minister in front of the Sri Dalada Maligawa on behalf of the people of Kandy.
Ministers Lakshman Kiriella, Malik Samarawickrema, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Lucky Jayawardana, J. C. Alawathuwala, and Kandy Mayor Kesara D. Senayake, Deputy Mayor Ilahi
Abdeen, former Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake and several others were present.
Courtesy: The Island
