Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has rejected any form of connections with controversial Sri Lankan pastor Jerome Fernando and Zimbabwean Pastor Uebert Angel, it was reported.
According to Daily Mirror, the former President stated yesterday (17) that he had only met with Pastor Jerome after the latter’s office had sought a meeting during Rajapaksa’s tenure as the Prime Minister.
Rajapaksa further stated that the meeting had been arranged with the Prime Minister’s Office as he was also the Minister of Religious Affairs at the time.
“It was a cordial meeting during which both the Pastors conducted a small prayer meeting with me and my wife. Since it was an official meeting, the pictures were released to the media. I have met Pastor Jerome and Uebert Angel only during that instance and have held no other meetings with them nor do I have any personal connections with either,” Rajapaksa revealed.
Condemning Pastor Jerome’s recent controversial statements during a religious congregation, Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that there is no room for communal disharmony in Sri Lanka.
“I strongly condemn remarks made by any individuals who attempt to cause communal disharmony in Sri Lanka especially when we fought hard as a nation to bring in unity and end all divisions,” Rajapaksa said.
Pastor Jerome Fernando is wanted by the Sri Lanka Police for having made derogatory statements against other religions, including Buddhism, which caused an uproar in the country.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe had ordered the Criminal Investigations Department to launch an inquiry into the matter after which a travel ban was sought against the pastor.
However, it was revealed that Pastor Jerome had left the country on Sunday (May 14), with the Police spokesman stating that he will be arrested upon his return to Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)