Minister of State for Defense Pramitha Bandara Thennakone said in Parliament that all security forces will be withdrawn from the Mihintala shrine from today.
The Minister of State for Defense also stated that this decision was taken based on a statement made by him and opposition leader Mr. Sajith Premadasa that the placement of the army in the Mihintala sacred ground would threaten the lives of the Mihintala Rajamaha Viharadhipati Thero.
Mr. Pramitha Bandara Thennakone mentioned that the Minister of State for Defense, who said that two people in civilian clothes were accused of being present at the Mihintala shrine, deployed those officers by the government’s decision to deploy officers for the protection of religious places and tourist security after October 7.
Accordingly, the Minister of State for Defense said that the 252 troops of the Navy, the Civil Defense Force and the Army who were present at the Mihintala sacred site will be withdrawn from today.
