The President is trying to destroy the political career of another Buddhist leader : Ven. Hadigalle Wimalasara Thero

COLOMBO(News 1st) - During a joint media briefing in Pitakotte this evening, several factions expressed their views, regarding the process followed to arrest former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka. Ven. Hadigalle Wimalasara Thero stated that Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was elected as the president of this country with the votes of a majority of Buddhists is trying to silence a Buddhist leader better than him and end his political career. Thero added that the present government should refrain from using state powers to silence them and they are prepared to take legal action against the police officers and other factions who acted in a manner that violated human rights. UNP MP Karu Paranavithana stated that the incumbent government did not receive the public mandate for this kind of behaviour and the public expects them to fulfil their promises. He added that instead, the government is neglecting their duties and engaged in political vengeance. UNP MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara shared that even after MP was acquitted from the case, they have resumed investigations. He added that as the UNP they would stand by him. Attorney-At-Law Gunaratne Wanninayake: "We questioned them yesterday over the place where the accident took place and the vehicle part that was damaged in the accident. It was the body of the vehicle that was damaged. Which means, the other vehicle had collided with the minister's vehicle. Anyone can understand that this is a plan to politically destroy MP Ranawaka. Now we have another question that must be solved. The government provided Champika Ranawaka with an official vehicle. When the official vehicle meets with an accident, can politicians be remanded under the public property act? This is now an era where the law of the jungle is being enforced." UNP MP Thalatha Athukorala questioned why the police agitated abruptly and questioned whether they could be satisfied with the police commission? She asked the public to imagine what might occur after the general election.