Tussle at Temple Trees

As the constitutional deadlock persists, one of Sri Lanka’s Prime Ministers’ complained to the IGP about attacks on his staff who visited Temple Trees, while the other issued a statement from the ‘Prime Minister’s Office’, indicating a trespass situation and security breach at the Official Residence. 

Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was sacked by President Sirisena last week but has remained put at Temple Trees for a sixth straight day, claims he remains Sri Lanka’s lawful Premier. 

Issuing a media statement, the Office of the Prime Minister (Wickremesinghe) said two persons claiming to be from the purported Office of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had entered Temple Trees without permission. 

Their arrival had caused a disturbance because they attempted to take away certain office equipment, Wickremesinghe’s Office said. Temple Trees security had immediately stepped in to arrest the situation and the pair were safely escorted outside, the press release noted. The persons had entered the premises without notifying security or showing identification, it further said. 

They had claimed they had been sent from the Office of Mahinda Rajapaksa to take an inventory of office equipment, the statement added. 

Minutes after the statement was issued, there were reports that a complaint had been filed with the IGP about a group of State officials being “assaulted and threatened” when they entered Temple Trees. Newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Secretary had made the complaint, the reports said.