8 June 2019 12:02 am
The government should respond to Minister Mangala Samaraweera who had complained to Pope Francis against Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, joint opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa said yesterday.
Issuing a statement, his office said the letter dated June 3, 2019 on a Parliament Letterhead addressed to His Holiness the Pope, which was attributed to Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera was a fake.
“Minister Samaraweera is criticizing the Cardinal who had done a great service to preserve peace in the nation. We have been told that the minister had complained against the Cardinal to Pope Francis. We want the government to comment on it,” he said.
House Leader Lakshman Kiriella said the MP should inform the minister beforehand if he wanted to raise a question.
Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri who responded requested the MP to raise a question under the Standing Order 27(2).
Meanwhile UNP MP Chaminda Wijesiri told a news conference held at the parliamentary complex that the minister had only voiced his personal opinion and that it was not the official stance of the government. However, he said that preventing the minister from visiting temples was not acceptable.