Minister is Accused of Lying in Parliament on Trincomalee Buddha Statue Issue – MP Samar Sampath

18-Nov-2025

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MP Samar Sampath of the New Democratic Front accused the Minister of Public Security of making a false statement in Parliament regarding the controversy surrounding the Buddha statue in Trincomalee. 

He questioned the minister’s religious affiliation, stating that he did not know whether the minister adhered to any religion. As Buddhists, they could not ignore the matter, he said.

Speaking during the committee-stage debate of the 2026 Budget allocations for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Employment and Tourism, and the Ministry of Justice and National Unity held on November 17, he made these remarks.

He further stated that Public Security Minister Ananda Wijeyapala had provided an explanation in Parliament on the removal of the Buddha statue in Trincomalee. However, the statue had still not been restored to its original location, and a bulldozer had now arrived at the site, creating a major problem in the city.

He stressed that as Buddhists, they were directly affected. People were free to follow any religion, but in regions like Trincomalee, the Buddhist population was small. 

Despite the minister responsible for the police providing assurances, the issue remained unresolved. He added that he did not know whether the minister had any religion, but they did, and the minister had left after uttering blatant lies. This matter could not be dismissed lightly, he said.