Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe tours Kandy days after several incidents taking place

COLOMBO (News 1^st) - Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe toured the Kandy area today (March 10), days after violent scenes broke out in the administrative district. The curfew imposed for the Kandy Administrative District, excluding the Kandy Municipality, came to an end at 5 AM today (March 10). As life returned to normal in the Kandy District, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the area this morning to look into the current situation. Premiership toured several parts of Kandy including Digana and Akurana, areas where unrest was reported. The Prime Minister was accompanied by a group including Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena and Minister of Law and Order Ranjith Madduma Bandara. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe thereafter attended a special meeting of the Kandy District Security Committee at the Kandy District Secretariat. Minister of Posts and Muslim Affairs, M.H.A. Haleem stated that he always suspected that this issue would escalate because the headquarters of the organization called ‘Mahasen Balakaya’ was based in Digana. Further, he stated he requested the Police to constantly implement a security mechanism, but he stated that the Police did not take much notice of it.

“There were several officials who performed their duties properly, so you cannot say that sir. But he was saying what the people have said.” – Min. of City Planning & Water Supply, Rauff Hakeem

Min. Rauf Hakeem stated that the issue concerning those in uniform protected the people may be viewed differently from one another. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe expressing his views stated the following. “A person who constantly argues with me said he is always ready to debate with me, but just like me even he does not want any violence. He said let's discuss this issue over a cup of tea or two. Then I said I do not want to get involved because I drink only black coffee. Whatever said and done, all races and religions in this country should be able to live. If there is anyone who broke the law, take action against them. We cannot wipe away the damage caused to us or the country through these measures.”