PM denies Ranjan’s statements about Kelaniya Temple

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday denied statements made by State Minister of Highways and Road Development Ranjan Ramanayake about the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Chief Prelate and referred the matter to a three-member investigation committee. 

Wickremesinghe observed that as the Head of the Temple Trustees of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, he rejected the statements made by Ramanayake and said he would be referring these remarks to the three-member committee appointed by him in his capacity as the Leader of the United National Party (UNP), a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office said. 

On 25 June, Wickremesinghe appointed a three-member Committee to inquire into controversial statements made by State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake and submit recommendations on what action could be taken by the Premier. 

Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana will be heading the Committee, with Public Administration, Disaster Management and Rural Economic Affairs Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara and International Trade and Development Strategies Minister Malik Samarawickrama as the other members.  

The three-member Committee will inquire into the statements that have been made by Ramanayake and disseminated across digital and social media platforms. The Committee will then submit guidelines and recommendations to Wickremesinghe, as the UNP Leader, on what future action could be taken.