Former President’s Coordination Secretary on Religious Affairs Watinapaha Somananda Thera was summoned to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division this morning over the distribution of ‘sil-redi’ (religious attire for observers of sil) during the recently concluded presidential election campaign.

Police spokesperson ASP Ruwan Gunasekara told Asian Mirror that the distribution of sil-redi has been carried out at the expense of Rs 600 million. The money was spent through the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, Gunasekara added. Watinapaha  Somananda Thera was the coordinator of the distribution process.

Police came to know of this transaction during a different probe into the TRC, ASP Gunasekara stated. Thereafter, the police decided to launch a separate investigation into this incident, he added. Thereafter, police summoned Somananda Thera to record a statement.

ASP Gunasekara added that Somananda Thera arrived at FCID at around 9.15am and a statement was still being recorded.

The distribution of sil-redi created a controversy during the presidential election as it was alleged that the Mahinda Rajapaksa government was ‘bribing’ those who attended religious events at temples at the expense of stated funds.