A group of senior UNP ministers have decided to meet President Maithripala Sirisena and request him to appoint a special Presidential Commission to investigate attempts taken to divide the Malwatte Chapter of the Siyam Nikaya during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government, party sources said.
The Commission would be empowered to investigate all persons involved in attempts to create a rift in the Malwatte Chapter and to make recommendations to the President to take follow up action.
If found guilty of the offence to create a division in a chapter of Maha Sangha that could result in stripping of civic rights of those involved in such acts, Leader of the House and Highways and Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella had told a meeting attended by senior UNP ministers, party sources said.
The Minister had told the meeting that he had information of former President Rajapaksa attempted to effect a division of the Malwatte Chapter and he would personally appear and submit evidence to a special presidential commission if President Sirisena appointed such a commission in response to their request, the sources said.