Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a three-member committee to probe the controversial statement made by State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake on the Buddhist clergy.

The committee will be headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Tilak Marapana, the prime minister’s office said.

A number of parties have objected to a controversial statement made by State Minister Ranjana Ramanayake regarding Buddhist monks, during an interview on social media.

A number of parties have objected to a controversial statement made by State Minister Ranjana Ramanayake regarding Buddhist monks, during an interview on social media.

In the interview uploaded recently by a YouTube channel, the State Minister had allegedly made certain comments regarding Buddhist priests in the country, with some groups accusing him of making derogatory statements against the clergy.

Ramanayake’s statement claimed that the young priests who come to temples are sexually abused and that 90% of the priests who shout now have been abused as a young priest.

Many religious leaders, civil society members and even politicians had deplored the statement.

The State Minister, however, recently apologized to Mahanayake and Anunayake Theros of Asgiri Chapter for the controversial statement.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has also called for a clarification from  Ramanayake regarding the comments.